Prince Harry and Meghan “surprised” by royal status clarification

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan certainly wanted things to be different: the ducal couple, who recently returned to Great Britain from the USA, are said to be “surprised” and upset by the king’s public clarification of their status. King Charles III (77) recently announced in a letter that they were still not “working royals”, i.e. that they did not carry out any official tasks for the royal family.

British media such as the “Daily Mail” and the “Telegraph” reported, citing those close to the couple, that they had not been informed about the letter in time. “We were a bit surprised that we were not informed in advance,” the PA news agency quoted a spokesman for the couple as saying. Accordingly, the letter was sent to Harry and Meghan's team just under an hour before publication. Too short notice to inform the two and “clarify a point or two,” as PA quoted. Harry himself was allegedly only informed two minutes before publication because he was in a “meeting,” it is said elsewhere.

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Charles' letter said the couple would continue to refrain from using official titles such as "His Royal Highness" and "Her Royal Highness." Harry and Meghan would also only pursue possible charity work in a private setting. The letter also stated that the police had to decide on the security arrangement.

The question of personal protection is particularly sensitive. Harry has long been at odds with the British government over the restoration of state-funded personal protection, which was withdrawn when he and Meghan relinquished their royal duties.

The media speculated that the - unusually clear - announcement from the royal family could have something to do with the planned meeting of a committee that is supposed to decide on the couple's possible claim to police personal protection. In that case, the announcement could be to the detriment of the Sussexes, as Harry and Meghan and their two children Prince Archie (7) and Princess Lilibet (5) are also called.

According to the Daily Mail, the couple would have much preferred if they had been named as "public figures." After all, Harry is still associated with a number of charitable organizations and will also attend appointments in this role, it is said. The Telegraph also concludes that the timing was no coincidence: "This is not a fleeting note written on the spur of the moment. This is a carefully considered document intended to set the direction for the couple's work and status in the UK," it says.

The couple returned to Great Britain with their children and dogs at the end of August. Speculation suggests they have moved to the exclusive Cotswolds region west of London.

At the beginning of 2020, Harry and Meghan broke away from the inner circle of the royal family and settled in the US state of California. The relationship with the other royals is considered strained. While there was a recent rapprochement with King Charles, the relationship between Harry and his older brother Prince William is considered to be broken.