King confirms Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not take up royal duties after their return to the UK

The King has said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are to remain private citizens and will not be working royals following their return to the UK.

Charles instructed the Lord Chamberlain to contact government departments and the military following requests for guidance after the return of the couple last month.

The couple stepped down in 2020 for personal and financial reasons but returned to the UK on 26 August, with rumours rife as to the reason behind the unexpected development.

At the time of the announcement it was understood they would not take up royal duties, but this has now been confirmed by King Charles.

In a letter to "relevant senior stakeholders across government, the military and Lord Lieutenancies" the King set out the Sussexes' official status after their return from the US.

It states: "Following the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to relocate to the UK, we have received a number of requests for guidance. To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that the following information be shared.

"It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of The Sovereign, and are no longer working members of the Royal Family.

"This position, distinct from the state and royal duties undertaken by the working Royal Family, and with the personal latitude it brings the couple in respect of financial independence and protection of their privacy as they would wish, will continue to be fully respected.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their decision to step back from royal duties in January 2020 and temporarily relocated to Canada in March with their son, Archie, who was nearly one at the time.

They then moved to Montecito, California, in June that same year and welcomed daughter, Lilibet, in 2021.

After announcing their return to the UK on 20 August this year, the family moved to a non-royal residence outside London, and the children - now aged seven and five - will start at a British school this month.

Until last month, Harry had returned only a handful of times since leaving the UK, mostly without Meghan and their children.

He previously voiced concerns about the safety of his family while in the UK, after losing a legal battle with the government last year over his level of security, which was downgraded when he stepped down as a working royal.

The Duke and Duchess's security arrangements for their return to the country have not yet been disclosed.

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However, a Home Office spokesperson insisted the government's protective security system is "rigorous and proportionate".

The letter went on to add: "It follows that there is no change to the current status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

"Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used."

Sky News understands the Duchess of Sussex is looking to return to her acting career and is in talks for a role in Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen.

Harry is expected to carry out his annual series of engagements around the WellChild awards, normally held in mid-September, and it has been reported Meghan is aiming to rekindle her work with her UK-based charities.

(c) Sky News 2026: King confirms Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not take up royal duties after their return to the UK