King Charles has issued a letter to "senior stakeholders" today where he has made it clear that despite being back in the UK, Prince Harry and Meghan should be considered "private citizens"16:00, 07 Sep 2026Updated 08:35, 08 Sep 2026The King has made it clear that Prince Harry and Meghan will remain private citizens and are "on their own" despite their bombshell move back to the UK.‌In a firm letter issued on behalf of the King today, it states that the Sussexes' should not use their HRH styles, which are still in abeyance, and that they "do not represent the sovereign" while out making public appearances.‌The guidance was sent under the King's instruction by his most senior official, the Lord Chamberlain, to offer clarity over Harry and Meghan's royal status after requests for guidance. It has been issued to those in government, the military and lord lieutenants up and down the country.‌A royal source said: "Timing is everything. Harry and Meghan have only been in the country a matter of days but this important line has been drawn early, leaving no one in any doubt where his feelings lie on the matter."Undoubtedly there will be clashes in the future with the Sussexes, no one expects them to give the royal households the courtesy of their plans, and even less so now. But the King could not be clearer. You may have come back to the UK, but you are on your own."‌In the run up to the Sussexes' return to Britain, the King was said to be glad to be able to spend more time with the family, but remained adamant they would not be working royals and there was no half-in, half-out option.Andthe letter issued today on behalf of the KIng sets out: "Following the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate to the UK, we have received a number of requests for guidance. To help avoid doubt or confusion, the King has directed that the following information be shared."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.‌"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."It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. 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."It came as the first picture of Harry since his move back to the UK also emerged today, showing him at Tower Bridge Studios on Friday, where he signed a wall and posed alongside his signature.The central London studios is where several high-profile TV shows and podcasts are filmed, including Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO and BBC's The Apprentice. It is unclear why he was visiting.‌The Sussexes stepped down as working royals in 2020 for personal and financial reasons but returned to the UK last month, with rumours rife as to the reason behind the unexpected development.Previously, Harry had said he "could not see a world" in which he brought his wife and children back to the UK after they lost their automatic right to taxpayer-funded police protection while in the UK.‌It is understood that the letter has been issued to the Sussexes’ team and officials have made it clear the guidance has been sent with Harry and Meghan’s wishes to “remain private citizens while in the UK”.It has been stressed that there is nothing new in the letter and the agreement reached at the Sandringham Summit in January 2020, after Harry and Meghan dramatically said they would not longer be working royals, still stands. It is also said that any security provision for Harry and Meghan remains an issue for RAVEC (Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures).The letter added: “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.‌“Any operational security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant police authorities.” The letter is in the name of Lord Benyon, whose office is responsible for organising the King’s ceremonial and public-facing events.Content cannot be displayed without consentThe letter at the King's request comes after reports that Meghan is expected to carry out some public charity work in the UK in the coming weeks with Harry expected to start his public appearances a lot sooner.Article continues belowLater this month, he is due to appear at the annual WellChild Awards and events for the Invictus Games and he will also carry out a skydive for military charities after making a promise to 102-year-old veteran Ed Marshall during a visit to Toronto, Canada, last November.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 in the Cotswolds.