King Charles Reminds Harry and Meghan Who’s Boss in the UK

King Charles III has moved to clarify Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s standing within the royal fold, issuing a statement that made plain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would not regain royal status after relocating back to the United Kingdom. The move reportedly caught the couple off guard. Coming shortly after a report claimed two members of the royal family were unsettled by Harry and Meghan’s return, Charles sent a letter on September 7 to senior figures in the U.K. government and military spelling out that his son and daughter-in-law would continue to be treated as private citizens. “To help avoid doubt or confusion, the King has directed that the following information be shared. … There is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” the letter stated, according to People. In practical terms, that leaves Harry and Meghan free to continue their independent projects. “In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests,” the King’s letter added.

According to BBC News, a representative for Prince Harry and Meghan said the Sussexes had not expected to be restored to official royal roles, but “were a little surprised not to have been told about this [letter] in advance.” Earlier, People reported that the couple would not automatically receive royal status again and that Harry would need to speak directly with King Charles if he and Meghan sought any formal reinstatement.

Following reports of the Sussexes’ high-profile return across the Atlantic, a source told OK! USA that one reason Harry and Meghan left the United States was to pursue a “half-in, half-out” arrangement with the royal family. Still, the exact nature of Harry’s future role has not been settled. “What’s particularly interesting is that nobody appears to have sat around a table and formally resurrected the original half-in, half-out proposal,” the insider said. Other reports have suggested the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may face significant hurdles if they hope to secure any kind of hybrid royal position.

Weeks before King Charles III sent the letter addressing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal status, an insider claimed the Duke of Sussex was considering a “private royals plus” role once back in the United Kingdom. Such an arrangement, however, would come with conditions. “It needs them to be much more ‘private’ than ‘working,’ and be seen at family occasions,” the source told The Times on August 23. A major complication remains Harry’s strained relationship with Prince William. “That requires William and Catherine to say ‘yes please’ and how on earth does that happen?” the insider told the outlet.

Another question shaping Harry and Meghan’s future relationship with the royal family is how long they intend to remain in the U.K. The couple have enrolled their children in school there, while also retaining their California home. “It’ll be an extended period of time — it could be six months, it could be a year, it could be more — I don’t think even they know yet,” the source told The Times. Days later, another source told NBC News that the Sussexes planned to stay long enough to bring their dogs with them, but had not made a permanent move back to the United Kingdom.

One major factor determining how long Harry and Meghan’s return to the U.K. will last is the state of their marriage and how it will be impacted by the move. Brittany Provance, Editor-in-Chief of Royal News Network, told Nicki Swift that having a getaway home in Portugal could help. “But I’m not sure if that will be enough, especially if the reception in Britain will likely be icy at best, especially from the royals,” the royal expert said.