King Charles has reiterated that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle remain non-working members of the royal family following their return to the United Kingdom.

A letter sent on behalf of the King to senior government officials said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to refrain from using their royal titles as they have done since stepping back from official royal duties in 2020.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: King releases letter confirming positions of Duke and Duchess of Sussex

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“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,” the letter states.

“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.

“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.”

Any charity work the couple undertakes will be carried out in a private capacity, and operational security decisions are matters for the relevant police agencies.

“The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity. In short, their position is akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests,” the letter states.

The letter was sent by the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, to senior officials in the government and military, as well as lord lieutenants, the King’s personal representatives around the country.

“To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that (this) information be shared,” the letter says.

The communication simply confirms that Harry and Meghan’s status remains unchanged.

The decision to send the letter and release it publicly demonstrates the concern among some palace observers that the couple’s status could allow them to become a sort of parallel royal court, competing with working members of the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s positions in the royal family have been confirmed following their return to the United Kingdom. Credit: AAP

King Charles revealed the unchanged status of Harry and Meghan to ‘avoid doubt or confusion’. Credit: AAP

The security question is particularly sensitive because Harry has fought a long-running battle with the government for the restoration of publicly funded police protection, which was cancelled when the couple gave up their royal roles.

The decision about whether to restore the couple’s round-the-clock police protection is a matter for a government panel known as RAVEC, or the Royal and VIP Executive Committee.

“Any specific questions from official and State organisations about the courtesies which should be extended to the Duke and Duchess, and particularly where recourse to public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace,” the Lord Chamberlain said in his letter.

Prince Harry and his family arrived back in Britain late last month, six years after moving to the United States amid a blaze of publicity.

The couple relocated to the US in 2020, stepping down from official royal duties to chart independent careers, but they have rarely been out of the headlines as Harry accused the royals of neglect, the tabloid press of ruining his life, and the government of failing to provide enough security for him to ever return home.

- With Reuters