Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly given no advance notice before King Charles III issued a letter Monday addressing their standing within the royal sphere.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told the BBC on Tuesday that the couple were “a little surprised to have not been told about this” ahead of the letter’s release.
According to the report, the Sussexes’ team received the correspondence shortly before 2 p.m. UK time. In it, Harry and Meghan were described as “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.”
Harry was then contacted at 3:09 p.m. and informed that his representatives had replied to the King’s letter with follow-up questions. Just two minutes later, the letter was circulated more widely.
A representative for Harry and Markle did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
MORE STORY: Labour Faces Tax Shock Warning as Billionaire Joins UK Exodus
Charles’ letter confirmed the duo, who recently relocated to the United Kingdom after six years away, will not be working royals carrying out official engagements.
“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of the Royal Family,” the announcement, sent to the BBC on behalf of Charles by the family’s lord chamberlain, read.
“There is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” it continued. Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used.”
Charles, 77, issued the letter “to help avoid doubt or confusion.”
This is a developing story…