Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, expressed surprise upon learning of a letter from King Charles that reiterated their status as non-working members of the Royal Family. A spokesperson for the couple stated they were "a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance," despite having recently returned to the UK with their children, Archie and Lilibet.

The letter, sent on Monday afternoon on behalf of the King, was intended to clarify that the Sussexes will continue to be private citizens and will not be able to use their His and Her Royal Highness titles. This message was circulated to Prince Harry's team, government departments, military officials, and Lord Lieutenants, the monarch's local representatives.

Royal sources indicated that Prince Harry and Meghan were made aware of the letter before its public release, though they reportedly had only about an hour to review it before it was shared with the media. This limited timeframe for response is understood to be the reason behind the couple's reported surprise.

The communication emphasized that any future engagements undertaken by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be in a private capacity and will not represent the Royal Family. This clarification comes as the Sussexes settle back into the UK and prepare for potential public appearances supporting their charities in the autumn.

This move appears to reinforce the terms of the 2020 Sandringham Agreement, which outlined the conditions under which the Sussexes stepped back from official royal duties. The letter serves as a clear directive that their visits or activities should not be construed as official royal engagements.

Furthermore, a security committee, including Home Office representatives, is scheduled to convene this week. The committee, known as Ravec (the Royal and VIP Executive Committee), will review the level of taxpayer-funded security to be provided to the Sussexes now that they are residing in the UK. Prince Harry has previously voiced concerns about the adequacy of police protection in Britain.

The Home Office, which does not comment on specific security decisions, stated its "long-standing policy is not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security." The UK's protective security system is described as rigorous and proportionate.

The situation highlights the ongoing delicate balance between the Sussexes' desire for privacy and their public profile, as well as the established protocols governing royal communications and security arrangements.