King Charles III has prohibited Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from taking part in official royal engagements, according to a report from UOL. The decision was confirmed in a letter from the monarch, which also clarified the couple’s standing within the institution.
The letter, reported by Brazilian outlets including G1 and VEJA, arrives after Harry and Meghan recently returned to the United Kingdom. In it, Charles reaffirms that the couple are considered “non-working” members of the royal family, a status that excludes them from formal duties and events on behalf of the Crown.
According to Terra, the palace has stated that Harry and Meghan are now in the UK as “private citizens.” That designation means their presence does not carry official weight, and they are not expected to represent the monarchy in any capacity during their stay.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan told O Globo that the couple are “surprised” by the letter, which they see as a reassertion of a status they had already accepted. The response suggests lingering tension between the Sussexes and the palace over how their role is defined publicly.
The move marks a firm boundary from the King, who appears intent on formalizing the distance between the working royals and his younger son’s family. Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020, but this letter makes their exclusion from official engagements explicit rather than implied.
What to watch next: whether the couple respond publicly to the King’s letter, and how the palace handles their presence in the UK in the coming weeks.
