Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Were "Surprised" by King Charles' Letter

Sep 08, 2026 - 19:08

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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Were "Surprised" by King Charles' Letter

King Charles III Addresses Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Royal Status After Move Back to U.K.

The royal family is adjusting to having Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back across the pond.

And in light of the couple’s return, King Charles issued a letter of guidance on Sept. 7 confirming that, despite being back in the U.K., there would be “no change” to Harry and Meghan’s status as non-working royals—terms the couple previously agreed to when they moved to the United States in 2020.

The letter, per the BBC, was created after “a number of requests” were received asking for clarification on Harry and Meghan’s status, which was confirmed to be “akin to private citizens.”

As for the letter, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan told the BBC the couple had been a “were little surprised not to have been told about this in advance.”

E! News has reached out to representatives of the Sussexes for additional comment but has not yet heard back.

According to the outlet, Harry and Meghan’s team were given a copy of the letter about one hour before it was due to be published, however were unable to make contact with Harry, who had been in a meeting, until shortly before it was shared publicly.

For Harry and Meghan—parents to son Archie Harrison, 7, and Lilibet Diana, 5—their chief concern in returning to the United Kingdom had been whether they would have adequate security for their family.

The BBC reports it is understood that a security committee, including Home Office representatives, is being called to look at the level of taxpayer-funded security that should be given to the Sussexes during their stay in England.

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When approached for comment by the BBC, a spokesperson for the Home Office said, "The UK government's protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security.”

Though E! News understands that the Sussexes’ return to England on Aug. 26 with their children does not mark a permanent change—Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, for instance, remains in Los Angeles—they are laying some roots.

According to multiple outlets, Archie and Lilibet have been enrolled in a local school for the time being—one they hope remains private.

Back in 2022, Meghan expressed her worried that if she were bringing Archie to school in the U.K., pick-up and drop-off would become a photo opportunity.

“Sorry, I have a problem with that,” she told The Cut. “That doesn’t make me obsessed with privacy. That makes me a strong and good parent protecting my child.”

For more royal news happening around the world, read on.

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"It is with deep grief that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has passed away," the palace shared. "King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Friday 28 August at 6:35 AM.

His son, Crown Prince Haakon, asceneded following his father's death.

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“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I announce the passing of His Majesty the Omukama of Tooro, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, at approximately 10:00 p.m. this evening,” Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki wrote in a statement. “This is an immeasurable loss for the Royal Family, the people of Tooro, and the nation of Uganda."

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While it's not a permanent move, the couple will be enrolling their children Archie and Lilibet in school in Britain this fall, according to People, which also reported that the Sussexes are hanging onto their Montecito, Calif., estate and vacation retreat in Portugal.

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In the lawsuit, filed in 2022, the plaintiffs accused the newspaper organization of mobile phone hacking, landline bugging and even home bugging in 97 separate allegations.

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The arrest came amid renewed controversy over Andrew's alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. (Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.)

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"I can confirm The Prince and Princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations," a Kensington Palace spokesperson shared in a statement obtained by MS NOW Feb. 9. "Their thoughts remain focused on the victims."

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The 29-year-old—who does not carry a royal title or official duties—is being kept in detention for up to four weeks over risks of reoffending after the Oslo district court granted the request. His attorney Petar Sekulic told the outlet that they are considering appealing the decision.

Høiby is expected in court Feb. 3 as part of a separate indictment regarding four alleged rapes between 2018 and 2024, as well as two alleged acts of violence against a partner and violating a restraining order.

His defense team addressed the allegations in a statement to the AP, saying that Høiby "denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence."

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Other stars including Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and Sadie Frost are also taking aim against the publishing company in the lawsuit.

Associated Newspapers has “vigorously denied” the claims, according to the BBC.

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Celebrate 10 Years Together

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Set to Olivia Dean’s “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” the couple revealed that the clip was recorded by none other than their 4-year-old daughter Lilibet. Alongside a camera emoji, Meghan—who also shares 6-year-old son Archie with Harry— added in the caption of the Jan. 16 Instagram post, “cred: our daughter.”

The couple also shared a throwback photo from their first year of dating. In the adorable snap, the pair embraced each other during a nature-filled getaway.

“When 2026 feels just like 2016….,” Meghan wrote in the caption. “You had to be there.”

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Her funeral was held Jan. 19 at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens following her death, with the burial at the Royal Cemetery of Tatoi.

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She added, “I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am. For the rivers within us flow with ease, fears washed away, cleanse and purify, come to peace with our tears and discover what it means to be alive, to be at one with nature—a quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides in memory helping us to heal in.”

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