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Harry and
Meghan ‘surprised’ at king’s letter reiterating they are non-working royals
Duke and
Duchess of Sussex were apparently given little notice before message was sent
to the media
Tue 8 Sep
2026 13.28 CEST
The Duke
and Duchess of Sussex were “surprised” at being given little notice of a formal
letter sent to government departments and the military on behalf of King
Charles reiterating their status as non-working royals.
Harry and
Meghan, who
returned to the UK from the US two weeks ago, had insufficient time to
clarify any points before details were issued to the media, it is understood.
The
letter, the first official public clarification of the couple’s status since
their return, was issued by Buckingham Palace’s most senior officer, the lord
chamberlain, Richard Benyon.
It was
revealed to the media at 3.06pm on Monday. It is understood the contents were
shared with Harry and Meghan’s team almost an hour before at 1.59pm, who sent a
response back to Buckingham Palace at 2.19pm asking whether the guidance had
already gone out, in the hope of letting the couple know before the media, and
for the team to have the chance to clarify one or two points.
Harry was
in a meeting and could not be contacted until 3.09pm. The Sussexes’ team
received confirmation at 3.11pm it had already been sent to the media.
The
letter was revealed before a reported meeting this week of the executive
committee for the protection of royalty and public figures (Ravec), which is
responsible for making decisions about royal security.
Harry is
waiting to hear the conclusion of the risk management board’s threat assessment
and Ravec is expected to decide at the meeting whether the Sussexes are
entitled to taxpayer-funded security now they live in the UK. The Home Office
does not comment on such decision making and would be unlikely to reveal the
outcome of such a meeting.
Lord
Benyon’s letter reiterates the couple’s “current” status as non-working royals.
“This position, distinct from the state and royal duties undertaken by the
working royal family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in
respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would
wish, will continue to be fully respected.
“Their
styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.
It says
their charitable work “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.”
The
letter says questions from official and state organisations about the
courtesies extended to the couple, “and particularly where recourse to public
funds may be required”, should be directed to Buckingham Palace, adding: “Any
operational security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant
police authorities.”
The
couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are expected to be
starting school in the UK near to the family’s reported countryside retreat.
The
palace’s clarification came on the day Harry was revealed to have visited Tower
Bridge Studios, a London filming and podcast studio, where shows such as the
podcasts Diary of a CEO and Jimmy Carr’s The Big Pitch are recorded.
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1 comment:
I am not a royalist, but I find any parents who admire and protect one child more than their second is obscene.
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