KEY POINT
- Harry and Meghan announced plans last month to return to Britain for an extended period and arrived in England on Aug. 26.
- A palace insider told PEOPLE that the royal family still does not know what motivates the couple’s return.
- A Sept. 7 letter reaffirmed that Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to spend an extended period in Britain has reopened questions about how they will navigate their relationship with Harry’s family while living closer to the center of royal life.
PEOPLE reported that King Charles was informed about the couple’s plans only days before their return became public. Harry and Meghan arrived in England on Aug. 26, roughly a week after announcing their decision.
The circumstances have left some members of the royal household uncertain about the couple’s intentions. A palace insider quoted by PEOPLE said the royal family “still don’t know what their motives are,” highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the Sussexes’ latest move.
The return does not mean Harry and Meghan have resumed royal duties. On Sept. 7, the King issued a letter through the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Benyon, reiterating their position as non-working members of the Royal Family.
The statement said Harry, 42, and Meghan, 45, are no longer working members and retain the personal freedom associated with financial independence and privacy. It described their position as comparable to private citizens who maintain commercial and charitable interests.
A source close to the Sussexes challenged that description in comments to PEOPLE, arguing that their public profiles make an ordinary private life unrealistic.
The Palace guidance also did not introduce a new arrangement. Instead, it restated terms established following the January 2020 Sandringham Summit, when Harry and Meghan announced that they intended to step back as working royals.
Harry’s Relationship With His Family
Despite the continuing distance between Harry and some members of his family, he has previously spoken publicly about wanting reconciliation.
In a 2025 BBC interview, Harry said he wanted to repair his relationship with his family and believed there was no reason to continue fighting.There has also been some direct contact.
Harry, Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, met King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove in July. PEOPLE reported that Harry has spoken with the King at least once since returning to Britain, although the conversation was not face to face.
Royal author Russell Myers told PEOPLE that King Charles and Prince William remain aligned on one specific point: Harry and Meghan do not represent the Royal Family in an official capacity.
Myers said William considers any personal relationship between his father and Harry to be the King’s decision. However, he described William’s own position as ruling out a relationship with the Sussexes in either a working or private capacity.
Royal author Simon Vigar offered another description of the approach taken by William and Kate Middleton, saying they view the situation through a “keep calm and carry on” philosophy and regard it as something belonging to the past.
Harry and Meghan’s return places their personal relationship with the Royal Family alongside the formal boundaries already established around their roles. Their physical presence in Britain has changed, but the supplied Palace guidance confirms that their official status has not.
For now, the clearest distinction is between Harry and Meghan living in the U.K. for an extended period and holding an official working role within the Royal Family. The two are not the same under the arrangement reaffirmed by the Palace.
Palace insider: Told PEOPLE that the royal family remains uncertain about Harry and Meghan’s motives.
Russell Myers: Said King Charles and Prince William are aligned over the Sussexes not representing the Royal Family.
Simon Vigar: Said William and Kate are approaching the situation as something from the past.
Sussex source: Disputed the description of Harry and Meghan as private citizens.
The supplied material confirms Harry and Meghan’s extended stay in Britain and further contact between Harry and King Charles. It does not establish any change to their non-working royal status or confirm a formal return to royal duties.
