Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, “stepped back” as senior members of the royal family in 2020 and said they would not return as working royals.
Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, moved from the UK to North America in March 2020, first living in Canada and then settling in Montecito, California.
The couple was raising Prince Archie, 7, and their daughter, Princess Lilibet, 5, in California, and operating as private citizens, producing television shows for Netflix, podcasts, and Meghan’s business, As Ever.
Their relationship with the royal family has remained frosty since they stepped back, but Harry saw his father a handful of times in 2025 and 2026. In August 2026, he and Meghan moved back to the London area and enrolled their children in UK schools, as outlets like the BBC and People reported at the time.
In September 2026, the Lord Chamberlain sent a letter on behalf of King Charles clarifying that the couple’s physical return to the UK wouldn’t change their status as working royals, as the BBC reported.
The letter, which was sent to the duke and duchess, the military, and the government, said the couple will remain “private citizens with commercial and charitable interests” and cannot use their HRH titles when supporting charities or other organizations.
Buckingham Palace and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on the matter.
