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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said they were reportedly caught off guard by the timing of King Charles’ bombshell letter. “We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance,” a spokesperson for the Sussexes said. 

The King’s most senior official, the Lord Chamberlain, sent the guidance to more than 100 senior stakeholders. It went to figures in government, the military, and Lord Lieutenancies after questions surfaced over the Sussexes’ status. Charles restated the terms of Megxit. 

“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of The Royal Family,” the letter said. “It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”

Their HRH styles remain in abeyance and are not used. The King also addressed their charity work, “The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.” 

Palace sources disputed the Sussexes’ account. According to the Daily Mail, Harry and Markle had received the letter before it was released publicly. However, nobody consulted them on its contents. According to The Sun, the couple “are understood to be concerned” that the letter could be tied to their ongoing security dispute. 

The Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as RAVEC, is set to consider their protection arrangements. However, Palace sources have denied that the letter was linked to the security decision. Harry’s fight over U.K. security has dragged on since 2020. 

After RAVEC removed his automatic taxpayer-funded police protection, his security was assessed case by case. He challenged the decision for years but lost his Court of Appeal case in May 2025. Speaking to the BBC from California after the ruling, Harry said, “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK.” 

He also called the row a “family dispute.” The Duke added, “He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff,” referring to Charles. Later, in December 2025, Harry reportedly wrote privately to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood asking for a full security risk assessment. 

According to sources, Harry and Markle are “trying to avoid being spotted.” They plan to continue public engagements and charity work. Both are also seeking 24/7 police protection over safety concerns. This also includes their children’s school run. 

Recently, Harry was spotted at a podcast studio in central London. This marked his first public appearance since returning. Hours later, Markle’s As Ever Instagram account shared a garden photo for the Labor Day holiday in the US. She is also reportedly planning to reconnect with British charities. 

The couple is also trying to agree on a new “fair” system for media coverage of their work. Harry and Markle left the Royal Rota system in 2020. Still, they plan to carry out public-facing work on their own terms. The King’s letter does not change the Megxit deal.

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