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Palace Letter Stuns Sussexes with Royal Status Update
8 Sep
Summary
- Buckingham Palace formally reiterated Sussexes' non-working royal status.
- Harry and Meghan received minimal notice before the palace letter's release.
- The letter clarifies their status is akin to private citizens with interests.
Buckingham Palace has issued a formal clarification regarding the status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, confirming them as non-working royals. This official statement was sent to government departments and the military.
It is understood that Harry and Meghan received very little advance notice of this communication, reportedly having less than an hour to review its contents before it was released to the media on Monday afternoon. Their team attempted to clarify points before the release, but confirmation came that it had already been disseminated.
The letter, penned by the lord chamberlain, Richard Benyon, reiterates that the couple's styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance. It emphasizes that their charitable work is a personal endeavor, effectively positioning them as private citizens with distinct commercial and charitable interests.
This clarification precedes a potential meeting of the executive committee for the protection of royalty and public figures (Ravec), which will reportedly discuss the Sussexes' entitlement to taxpayer-funded security while residing in the UK. The letter directs any inquiries regarding courtesies or public funds to Buckingham Palace, and operational security issues to the relevant police authorities.
The Sussexes' children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are expected to begin their schooling in the UK. This announcement coincided with reports of Harry visiting a London filming and podcast studio.
