King Charles III has clarified his stance on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s return to the UK, confirming that the Sandringham Agreement remains in effect and that Harry and Meghan are private citizens.

In a letter dispatched by the most senior member of his Household to key figures across the country, including Lord Lieutenants and military bosses, King Charles underscored that there is no public royal role for the couple, ruling out any possibility of them being "half in, half out" royals. This written confirmation was sent on September 7, 2026, just hours after newspaper reports indicated the Duke and Duchess were planning charity engagements now that they are back in the UK.

A report in The Sunday Times suggested that Harry and Meghan "expected to be photographed and publicised" during these activities. However, the Lord Chamberlain’s letter states, "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 letter further clarifies, "The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity."

The correspondence also directs that "any specific questions from official and State organisations about the courtesies which should be extended to the Duke and Duchess, and particularly where recourse to public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace. Any operational security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant police authorities." To further separate their activities from any royal function, the letter adds that "all correspondence and administrative questions relating to the couple should be sent directly to their office," firmly placing responsibility for their agenda on them.

The Lord Chamberlain sent the letter to government and military officials, as well as Lord Lieutenants, who are responsible for welcoming royals during engagements. It has been distributed to anyone who might be involved in organizing official royal events, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also received a copy.

King Charles III’s decision to communicate this widely is seen as drawing a clear boundary. Speculation has persisted regarding how Harry and Meghan would abide by the rules of the Sandringham Agreement since they announced their plans to return to the UK. Following their decision to step back as working royals, a summit at Sandringham established the guidelines for their new lives. It was agreed they would no longer use their royal titles publicly, and their initial plans to represent the Royal Family at major events like Trooping the Colour while simultaneously building private businesses were deemed unacceptable.

The couple and their children, Archie and Lilibet, returned to the UK in August, with the children set to begin new schools in England as the autumn term commences. Upon their return announcement, it was reported that the family would reside in a private home rather than a royal residence. The Cotswolds and Northamptonshire have been mentioned as potential areas of interest for the Sussexes. King Charles is reportedly pleased that his son and grandchildren are now in the same country, as it will facilitate private visits.