Buckingham Palace issued formal guidance on Monday that underscores the continued estrangement between King Charles III and his son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle, just two weeks after the couple returned to Britain from the United States.
The official statement from the palace addresses the formal status of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, clarifying their titles, their relationship to the monarchy, and how they should be treated by institutions and the public.
In what appears to be an effort to establish clear boundaries with the couple, whose public criticisms have caused significant embarrassment to the royal family, King Charles confirmed that Harry and Meghan may not be addressed as "His Royal Highness" and "Her Royal Highness." The statement specified that these honorifics remain "suspended," at least temporarily.
The palace further clarified that the prince and his wife hold no official positions on behalf of the royal family and should be regarded as private citizens. "Any charitable foundation operated by them is not affiliated with the royal family and represents a private initiative only," the official statement read.
Buckingham Palace also made clear that decisions regarding the couple's security arrangements are not within the purview of the Crown, but rather fall under the discretion of police authorities, as with any private citizen.
The formal guidance represents a painful rebuff for Harry and Meghan, who had reportedly hoped for reconciliation with the ailing king and with Prince William, the heir to the throne. Such a rapprochement appears unlikely in the near future.
For now, the House of Windsor shows no signs of forgiving the couple for what the palace views as historic humiliation inflicted upon the monarchy.
