Prince Harry’s return to the UK has been followed by renewed clarification of his and Meghan’s status outside the working Royal Family.
LONDON, September 10, 2026 — Prince Harry’s response to King Charles’ recent clarification that he and Meghan are not working royals could risk worsening relations between the Duke of Sussex and his father, according to former royal butler Grant Harrold.
Harrold, who previously worked for King Charles and other members of the Royal Family, said the latest public exchange suggests that tensions surrounding Harry and Meghan’s position remain unresolved. Speaking to GB News on behalf of OLBG, he described the dispute as a possible “step backwards” in the relationship between Harry and his father.
The comments follow an official letter issued on September 7 by Lord Benyon, the Lord Chamberlain, at the King’s direction. The letter was circulated to government departments, military authorities and Lord Lieutenancies after Harry and Meghan returned to the UK.
The Palace made clear that the couple remain private citizens rather than working members of the Royal Family. It also reiterated that they do not use their His and Her Royal Highness styles and that their charitable activities are undertaken in a personal capacity.
Key points
King Charles has confirmed that Harry and Meghan will not resume working-royal duties following their return to Britain.
The Palace said their position remains consistent with the arrangements established when they stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
Harry and Meghan’s representatives were reportedly surprised by the timing and public distribution of the Palace guidance, although the couple had received the letter.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold believes the public disagreement could damage the progress Harry had made with his father.
Harrold said the situation risks repeating the pattern seen when Harry and Meghan first stepped away from royal duties in 2020.
“The fact the King has expressed how he sees the situation, and they’ve come out and said they see it differently, shows that things are far from sorted behind Palace walls,” Harrold said.
He also argued that the disagreement could complicate Harry’s relationship with Prince William, suggesting the latest developments may reinforce concerns about his brother’s conduct.
However, those assessments are expert opinion, not evidence of a new royal decision or confirmed deterioration in family relations. Neither King Charles nor Prince William has publicly said that Harry’s response has damaged their relationship.
The more concrete development is the Palace’s clarification of the Sussexes’ institutional status. Harry and Meghan returned to Britain after stepping down as working royals in 2020, but their move back does not restore their former official roles. Reuters reported before their return that they were not expected to resume royal duties.
That distinction is important because Harry remains fifth in line to the throne and a Counsellor of State, even though he is not a working member of the Royal Family. The Palace’s latest guidance therefore addresses his institutional role rather than removing his place in the line of succession.
For now, there is no official indication that Harry’s return to Britain has resulted in a restoration of royal duties. The latest Palace intervention instead appears designed to remove uncertainty over how the Sussexes should be treated by public institutions while they live in the UK.
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