Prince Harry and Meghan Markle split with King Charles III.
Celebrity

King Charles Sends Formal Letter Confirming Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Cannot Use HRH Titles

The monarch made the official title stance clear via correspondence revealed by the Lord Chamberlain to the BBC.

By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 1 min read

The royal family drama just added a formal paper trail. King Charles III has stepped in to clarify the official status of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, sending a written reminder regarding the couple's royal styling. According to reports, the monarch dispatched official correspondence confirming that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are strictly prohibited from using their "His Royal Highness" and "Her Royal Highness" honorifics. The Lord Chamberlain disclosed details about the letter during an interview with the BBC, making it clear where the sovereign stands on the matter.

Why can't Prince Harry and Meghan Markle use HRH titles?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle split with King Charles III.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle split with King Charles III.

The explicit clarification serves as a firm reminder of the terms set when Harry and Meghan stepped down from their roles as senior working royals. While the pair retained their Sussex peerage titles, the privilege of using the coveted HRH designations was shelved as part of their exit arrangement. The recent communication reinforces those boundaries, leaving zero room for interpretation regarding how the couple should be addressed in official contexts. Reports indicate that the timing of the letter has reignited conversations around the lingering tension between Buckingham Palace and the California-based pair.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at a reception in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Charles sent a letter confirming that Meghan Markle and Harry (seen here in 2019) will remain private citizens despite their move back to the UK.

What did King Charles say about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's titles?

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Princess Charlotte on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Queen Elizabeth II (seen here with Charles, Markle and Harry in 2018) died on Sept. 8, 2022.

By publicly addressing the title situation through the Lord Chamberlain, the Palace is putting a decisive end to any lingering ambiguity. The clarification ensures that official records and public communications align with the original terms negotiated during the couple's transition away from crown duties. The ongoing back-and-forth continues to keep royal observers captivated, highlighting the persistent friction between the monarch and his youngest son. Even from across the Atlantic, every update concerning the Sussexes' formal titles sparks fresh debate over the future of their relationship with the institution. For now, the message from the throne is undeniably clear: while Harry and Meghan remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the HRH designation remains strictly off the table.

The photos · 6

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle split with King Charles III.
Charles sent a letter confirming that Meghan Markle and Harry (seen here in 2019) will remain private citizens despite their move back to the UK.
Queen Elizabeth II (seen here with Charles, Markle and Harry in 2018) died on Sept. 8, 2022.
“Thanks to Prince Harry, and I would argue the King, we have all been dragged into a squalid little argument between the duke, his father and his father’s staff, after Harry’s office told the BBC the couple was ‘surprise
Sykes heard the Sussexes (seen here in 2019) were surprised “about timing, not content.”
“They just object to the fact that it landed in his office minutes before it went out and the King felt the need to restate a known fact at all,” Sykes said of the pair (seen here in 2022).

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People also ask

Can Prince Harry and Meghan Markle still use HRH titles?
No. King Charles issued formal written clarification that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain prohibited from using 'His Royal Highness' and 'Her Royal Highness' titles.
Who confirmed the news about King Charles's letter?
The Lord Chamberlain disclosed details regarding the monarch's written clarification about the titles during a report to the BBC.