OAN Staff Lillian Mann
1:11 PM – Monday, September 7, 2026
Upon their return to the United Kingdom, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be treated as “private citizens,” affirming that the core principles of their 2020 Sandringham departure agreement remain fully in place, King Charles III confirmed.
On Monday, King Charles issued a letter explaining the couple’s role to “help avoid doubt or confusion” following the August announcement of their return to the United Kingdom.
Monday’s memorandum marks the first time Charles and the palace have publicly commented on Harry and Megan’s move back, which comes six years after they left their senior royal roles and moved to Montecito, California.
Sent by the Lord Chamberlain to Harry’s Team as well as senior stakeholders across the U.K. government and military, the letter asserted that Harry and Meghan will continue to hold “financial independence” as well as “protection of their privacy as they would wish.”
“Following the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate to the UK, we have received a number of requests for guidance,” the memorandum read. “To help avoid doubt or confusion, the King has directed that the following information be shared.”
“It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” the letter continued. “Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used. 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.”
“Any specific questions from official and State organisations about the courtesies which should be extended to the Duke and Duchess, and particularly where recourse to public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace,” the letter noted.
“Any operational security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant police authorities,” it added.
When Harry and Meghan stepped down from their senior roles in 2020, the Sandringham agreement with the Palace stipulated that they would cease using their Royal Highness titles, no longer represent the Crown and forfeit public funds for royal duties—while permitting them to earn their own income.
With no official UK address since vacating Frogmore Cottage in 2023, the couple’s return has renewed questions about their living arrangements. The family is currently staying on a private Cotswolds estate as they search for a permanent home, amidst ongoing concerns over their private security, according to The Independent.
The letter follows President Donald Trump stating he was “not a fan” of the couple and “wouldn’t have taken them back” if he were in the King’s place.
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