King sends letter reaffirming that Harry and Meghan are not working royals

King Charles III (King Charles III) issued a letter making it clear that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Duke and Duchess of Sussex) will not become working royals who can be allowed to perform official duties after returning to the UK.

The letter seeks to clarify the status of Prince Harry and Meghan. The couple moved back to the UK from California, USA, with their children Archie and Lilibet last month.

A letter sent on behalf of the king by Lord Chamberlain, a senior royal official, stated that the two people still cannot use the title "His/Her Royal Highness" and will continue to be "private citizens."

Meanwhile, Prince Harry appears to have been photographed for the first time since returning to the UK. A photo posted on social media shows him at a TV and podcast recording studio in London.

According to royal sources, the king's letter has been sent to Prince Harry's team, government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants.

County lieutenants are the monarch's local representatives, and government officials often participate in royal visits and event arrangements.

The letter made it clear that any activities undertaken by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are private and they do not represent the Royal Family.

This appears to be somewhat of an early warning that any visit by Prince Harry and Meghan should not be considered an official royal engagement.

The move comes amid expectations that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will make a public appearance this autumn, when they will settle in the UK and support their charities.

The couple have kept a low profile, but the first photos of Prince Harry since returning to the UK appear to have been posted by the Tower Bridge Studios social media account.

The King's message emphasized that the arrangements agreed upon when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the UK in 2020, the so-called "Sandringham Agreement", remain in force today.

According to the agreement, there is no so-called "half in, half out" status arrangement, so Harry and Meghan cannot pursue their own business interests while retaining their status as working royals.

"As we all know, the Duke and Duchess stepped down from their duties on behalf of the Sovereign in January 2020 and are no longer working members of the Royal Family," the letter said.

The letter, sent on behalf of the king, makes it clear that the situation has not changed.

The letter added: "The Duke and Duchess's charitable work is their personal matter and is carried out in their private capacities."

The King's message stated that if any organization has questions about how to receive the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, "particularly where public funds may be required, they should check with Buckingham Palace".

Prince Harry and Meghan endured a contentious separation when they left the UK in 2020, an experience they later recounted in a Netflix documentary.

They built a financially independent life in California, including Prince Harry publishing his best-selling memoir Spare and Meghan launching the online food brand As Ever.

The couple made a surprise return to the UK this summer, where their children will be attending school.

Prince Harry is expected to continue supporting his charities, including the Invictus Games, which are scheduled to be held in Birmingham next year.

There are reports that Meghan is considering a return to acting.

The dispute over Prince Harry and Meghan's security arrangements in the UK remains unresolved, with the letter clearly stating: "Any issues related to operational security should still be referred to the relevant police authorities."