A letter sent in the name of the King to senior government officials states that the couple will continue to refrain from using royal titles, as they have done since 2020, when they stepped back from official royal duties.
Any charitable work carried out by the couple will be done privately, and operational security decisions will be made by the relevant police authorities, the letter adds.
The letter to senior government and military officials, as well as lord lieutenants – the King’s personal representatives across the country – was sent by the lord chamberlain, the highest-ranking royal court official.
“To help avoid doubt or confusion, the King has instructed that (this) information be shared,” the letter states.
Although the announcement simply confirms that Harry and Meghan’s status remains unchanged, the decision to send the letter and make it public reflects concerns among some court observers that the couple’s status could allow them to become a kind of alternative royal court, competing with working members of the royal family.
Read more In Šilutė, a fourth grader running into the street was hit by a Volkswagen
The security issue is particularly sensitive, as Harry long fought with the government over restoring publicly funded police protection for his family. Such protection was withdrawn when the couple gave up their royal roles.
The decision on whether to restore round-the-clock police protection for the couple is made by the government Royal and Very Important Persons Protection Executive Committee (RAVEC).
“Any specific official and state organization issues regarding the respect that should be shown to the Duke and Duchess, especially in cases where public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace,” the lord chamberlain stated in his letter.
Read more Norwegian company started «capturing» CO2 at its factory in the Netherlands
