A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has announced that the couple were surprised to see a letter sent on behalf of King Charles, clarifying that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continue to have the status of inactive members of the royal family.

The spokesman said the couple, who have recently moved back to the UK, "were somewhat surprised not to have been informed of this in advance."

However, sources close to the royal family say Prince Harry and Meghan were made aware of the letter, which was sent on Monday afternoon, before it was made public.

Meanwhile, it is learned that a committee on security matters, which also includes representatives from the British Home Office, will meet this week to consider the level of taxpayer-funded security that should be provided to the Sussexes, now that they are residents of the United Kingdom.

The Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as Ravec, is the body that makes decisions about the security of members of the royal family and other public figures. Prince Harry has previously complained about the lack of adequate police protection during his stays in the UK.

The Ministry of Interior does not comment on such decision-making and is not expected to make public the outcome of any committee meeting.

"The UK government's protective security structure is rigorous and proportionate. Our long-standing policy is not to provide detailed information on these measures, as to do so could compromise their operation and the safety of individuals," a Home Office spokesman said.

As for the fact that Prince Harry and Meghan were "surprised" by the King's message on Monday, it is learned that this is related to the very short time the couple was given to react.

According to reports, they had only seen the letter about an hour before it was sent to the media. By the time his team managed to contact Prince Harry, the letter was almost ready for publication.

The letter, sent on behalf of King Charles, clearly states Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's status as non-working members of the royal family. The couple moved from California to the UK last month, along with their children, Archie and Lilibet.

The letter notes that they will not be entitled to use the titles "His Royal Highness" and "Her Royal Highness", while continuing to be considered "private citizens".

The letter was sent by the Lord Chamberlain, one of the most senior officials at the Royal Palace, and was forwarded to Prince Harry's team, government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants, according to sources close to the Palace.

Lord Lieutenants, who serve as local representatives of the monarch, as well as government officials, are often involved in organizing royal visits and engagements.

The letter makes it clear that any engagements Harry and Meghan will undertake will be in a private capacity and that they will not represent the Royal Family.

This message is seen as a clear warning that any visit or activity by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should not be treated as an official royal engagement.

The announcement comes ahead of several possible public appearances by the couple in the autumn, as they settle in the UK and continue to support their charitable activities.

The King's message emphasizes that the 2020 agreement reached when Harry and Meghan stepped back from official royal life in the United Kingdom, known as the "Sandringham Agreement," remains in force.

This agreement ruled out the possibility of a "half-in, half-out" status of the royal family, meaning that Harry and Meghan could not pursue their commercial interests and at the same time continue to be active members of the Royal Family.

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

It added: "The Duke and Duchess's charitable work is a personal matter for both of them and is carried out in their private capacity."

Prince Harry is expected to continue supporting his charities, including the Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham next year.

Meanwhile, there have been reports that Meghan Markle is considering a return to acting.

Regarding security, the letter sent on behalf of the King states: “Any issues related to operational security should continue to be addressed to the relevant police authorities.”

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