King Charles III has issued an unusually direct letter making clear that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain private citizens, not working members of the Royal Family, despite Harry and Meghan's recent return to the UK. The move, sent to more than 100 senior figures including government, military and royal representatives, appears designed to head off speculation that the couple might resume a hybrid public role, and comes just as Harry made his first public appearance in Britain since returning and Meghan shared a photo on social media.

The letter, written on the King's instruction by Lord Chamberlain Lord Benyon following queries from officials, states there is "no change" to the Sussexes' status and that their HRH styles remain in abeyance. It stresses that any charitable or commercial work they undertake is done in a private capacity, with no public money involved, and was sent to the couple's team shortly before publication without prior discussion of its contents. Among the 98 Lord Lieutenants and other stakeholders who received it, the letter has been described by a former royal press secretary as "decisive and unequivocal", reinforcing boundaries first set by the late Queen at the 2020 "Sandringham Summit".