LONDON – Another day, another royal drama.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were surprised by a letter sent on behalf of King Charles on Sept. 7, USA TODAY understands. The letter clarified that there would be absolutely no change to their royal status, despite them moving back to Britain last month.
While palace sources told the BBC the duke and duchess were made aware of the letter before it was made public, USA TODAY understands that this was not the case.
The letter said the couple, who stepped back from their senior roles within the royal family in 2020, will still not be able to use the "HRH" titles of His and Her Royal Highness, and that they are considered "private citizens with commercial and charitable interests." The document underscored
that there can be no half in/half out arrangement when it comes to the British royal family.
The letter, which was also shared with government and military officials on Monday, was seen by Harry and Meghan's team about an hour before it was shared by the British tabloids. The duke was in a meeting and, by the time his team could reach him, the letter was about to be shared publicly.
It is believed representatives for the Sussexes would have liked more time to clarify points in the letter or to respond to the document.
The King directed the letter to be shared to "help avoid doubt or confusion," following the couple's big move back to Britain with their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
This is not the first time the Sussexes' office and Buckingham Palace have clashed and given different accounts of happenings within the royal family.
In July, before the Sussexes announced they would be moving back to Britain, Harry returned to London solo.
Multiple outlets, citing a representative for Harry, reported that the estranged prince would be staying at Buckingham Palace. Around an hour later, Buckingham Palace sources told the BBC the opposite: The prince would not be staying at the London landmark.
The confusion marked the beginning of a turbulent trip for Harry who, that same week, also lost a privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail, MailOnline and Mail on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harry and Meghan 'surprised' by king's letter about royal status
