- Buckingham Palace released a letter Monday, reiterating that Harry and Meghan remained nonworking royals as they have since they stepped down from royal duties in January 2020.
- A palace source said the letter was issued to clarify the unchanged position of the couple for the British government and military amid questions over whether the public should fund their security.
- A spokesman for Harry and Meghan told NBC News that they were 'surprised' by the letter and were not given an opportunity to contribute to its contents.
- The latest public tension follows Monday's release of the letter signed by the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior officer of the royal household, which stated that the Duke and Duchess stepped down from representative duties in January 2020 and are no longer working members of the Royal Family.
- The letter was put into the public domain because it likely would have leaked anyway and the palace wanted to avoid claims of secrecy around what it contained, the source said.
- The contents of the letter were shared with the couple’s staff a few hours before it was released, according to a spokesperson for the Sussexes.
Harry and Meghan were taken aback by a letter from Buckingham Palace confirming their status as nonworking royals, which was made public to address security funding concerns. The letter, issued on Monday, reiterated that the couple has not performed royal duties since January 2020.1
A palace source explained that the letter aimed to clarify the couple's position for the British government and military amid ongoing discussions about public funding for their security. The source noted that the letter was released to prevent any claims of secrecy, as it was likely to leak otherwise.2
However, a spokesperson for the Sussexes expressed their surprise, stating they were not given a chance to contribute to the letter's contents. The couple's staff received the letter's details only hours before its public release.7
The situation has escalated tensions, particularly as a government committee was set to meet to discuss security provisions for Harry and Meghan following their return to the UK. The letter, signed by the Lord Chamberlain, emphasized the couple's nonworking status, stating: “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.”45
“Buckingham Palace released the letter Monday to reiterate the couple's unchanged status for the British government and military amid debates over public funding for their security. A palace source said the letter was made public to preempt leaks and avoid secrecy claims, while the Sussexes' staff saw it only hours before release.”
