The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are building a new life in the Cotswolds, but were taken aback by the King’s letter
King says Meghan and Harry not working royals despite UK return
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly revealed the titles they would prefer to use as they return to the UK after the King referred to them as “private citizens”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a spectacular return to Britain in late August, and are said to be settling down in Oxfordshire with Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, enrolled in local schools. Their arrival in the UK has prompted King Charles III to clarify the Sussexes’ position and titles.
In the letter, sent to senior government and military officials, Charles said Harry and Meghan would continue to refrain from using the formal royal titles, such as His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness, as they have since stepping back from official royal duties in 2020.
It added that any charity work carried out by the couple will be carried out in a “private capacity”.
Harry and Meghan during a public trip to Australia in April (Image: Getty)
The controversy comes on the fourth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing (Image: Getty)
The letter, released to media on Monday (September 7) took the Duke and Duchess aback. Reports from multiple UK news outlets have emerged claiming Harry and Meghan want to be known as “public figures” instead.
The Sussexes would prefer “public figures” as they feel it would “acknowledge that, on a personal level, they remained members of the Royal Family, despite no longer receiving public funding”, a briefing note from the couple said, according to the Daily Mail.
They also “were a little surprised not to have been told about” the King’s letter “in advance”, a spokesperson for the pair said.
Insiders said the Sussexes’ team was only given an hour’s notice to digest its contents before it was made public. They also said Harry only had two minutes to read the letter before it was published, as he was in a meeting in London and could not be reached sooner.
Meghan has still not been seen in public yet, but has reportedly had coffee at Soho Farmhouse, an ultra-luxurious private members club frequented by the Beckhams and Paul McCartney in Oxfordshire, where the duo are said to be staying.
The Express has contacted Buckingham Palace and represenatives for Harry and Meghan for comment.