Harry and Meghan surprised by a letter from Buckingham Palace

A spokesman for Harry and Meghan said the couple, who recently returned to the UK, were "somewhat surprised not to have been informed about the letter in advance" and were not given time to respond.

Sources at Buckingham Palace cited by the BBC claim that Harry and Meghan found out about the letter before it was made public. The BBC claims that it happened an hour before the publication of the letter.

What was on the list?

The letter, sent on behalf of King Charles III, explained that Prince Harry and Meghan, who returned from California last month with their children Archie and Lilibet, are no longer active members of the royal family.

They will still not be able to use the titles "His and Her Royal Highness" and will remain "private citizens," reads a letter sent on behalf of the king by the Lord Chamberlain, one of Buckingham Palace's senior officials.

According to Palace sources, the letter was sent to Prince Harry's team, government institutions, representatives of the armed forces and Lord Viceroys.

A warning signal from Buckingham Palace

The letter made it clear that any engagements made by the Sussexes would be private and they would not represent the royal family.

As the BBC points out, this could be perceived as a kind of warning signal, making it clear that Prince Harry and Meghan's visits should not be treated as royal obligations.

The message from the king emphasized that the position agreed in 2020, when the Sussexes left the UK - the so-called The Sandringham Agreement – ​​still in force.

“It is well known that in January 2020, the Duke and Duchess stepped down from their representative duties on behalf of the Monarch and are no longer active members of the Royal Family,” the letter reads.

The document added: "The Duke and Duchess's charitable work is their personal matter and is undertaken as part of their private responsibilities."

The letter, sent on behalf of the king, also said that "any issues related to operational security should continue to be referred to the appropriate police authorities."

What about Harry and Meghan's protection?

According to the BBC, the security committee, which includes representatives from the Home Office, is meeting this week to discuss how much security should be funded for the Sussexes. Prince Harry has previously complained about the lack of adequate police protection in the UK.

The Executive Committee for the Royal Family and VIPs, known as Ravec, decides on the safety of members of the royal family and public figures.

The Ministry of the Interior does not comment on such decisions and is unlikely to reveal the results of such a meeting.

"The UK Government's security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to release details of these arrangements because it could compromise their integrity and impact on the safety of citizens," a Home Office spokesman said.