King Charles has recently issued a letter to senior British officials confirming that Prince Harry and Meghan, his youngest son and daughter-in-law, will continue as non-working members of the royal family upon their return to the U.K. The letter, distributed to Harry’s team and government and military authorities, stated that since stepping back from official royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan are no longer active members of the royal family.

The letter emphasized that their status as non-working royals grants them personal freedom, financial independence, and privacy protection. It made clear that their position is distinct from the state and official royal duties carried out by active royal family members. King Charles affirmed that the couple’s charitable endeavors are private matters undertaken independently.

In essence, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are considered akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests. Prince Harry and his family returned to the U.K. last month after residing in the United States for six years, following their decision to step down from official royal duties in 2020 to pursue independent paths. Despite their departure from active royal roles, the couple has remained in the public eye, with Harry making critical statements about the royal family, media intrusion, and security concerns.