Harry and Meghan hate the phrase ‘working members of royal family’.
The couple stepped down as working royals in January 2020 and relocated to the UK in August 2026 without plans to resume public duties as working members of the royal family. The Royal Household views them as private citizens. They now operate Archewell Inc., a mix of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and maintain a public presence through personal media projects rather than official royal engagements.
The Shift From Royal Duties to Independent Public Life
Meghan and Harry stepped down as working royals in January 2020, moving to Southern California and launching Archewell Inc. as a Beverly Hills-based mix of for-profit and not-for-profit business organizations. Their relocation to the UK in August 2026 came without plans to resume public duties as working members of the royal family. The Royal Household has made it clear they view the couple as private citizens, not as working royals. Their recent visit to Nottingham marked their first joint engagement since returning to the UK, conducted as supporters of specific projects rather than as working royals.
Building a Brand Through Archewell and Personal Media
The couple operates Archewell Inc., a mix of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Meghan has expanded her professional portfolio through podcasts, books, and the lifestyle brand As Ever, which was officially launched in April 2025. She hosted the podcast Archetypes in 2022, wrote the children’s book The Bench, and appeared in the Netflix series Harry & Meghan (2022) and With Love, Meghan (2025). These activities form the core of their independent professional identity, distinct from any official royal role.
Maintaining a Public Presence Without Official Royal Status
Recent public appearances are conducted as supporters of specific projects rather than as working royals. During their Nottingham visit, the couple attended a youth charity, a food bank, and a youth work organisation, with a private security team accompanying them. A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said Nottingham is “a special place” for them both, as it is where they made their first joint appearance after announcing their engagement in 2017. The Royal Household has confirmed they view the couple as private citizens, despite the distinctly royal feel of their schedule.
The Distinction Between Private Citizens and Royal Engagement
The couple maintains a private security team for their engagements, and local police teams are understood to be aware of their visits. Their spokesperson told BBC News they were “really excited” to be back together in Nottingham, nine years since their last joint visit. Despite their return to the UK, the couple is expected to spend the holiday season in California, where their friends and Meghan’s family are located. This pattern underscores their current status as private citizens pursuing independent professional paths, not as working members of the monarchy.
Future Professional Plans And Public Engagements
According to the sources, Meghan has been expanding her professional portfolio through various projects, including her lifestyle and cooking brand, As Ever, which was launched in April 2025. She has also been involved in charity work, particularly in the area of women’s issues and social justice.
As for their public engagements, Harry and Meghan are expected to visit a youth and community charity in Nottingham, which will be their first joint engagement since returning to the UK. The couple will get a firsthand look at the organization, which aims to help young people facing poverty, instability, exploitation, or violence build confidence and develop practical skills.
Their recent relocation to the UK has sparked speculation about their future plans, but it is clear that they will continue to pursue independent professional paths. As Grand Harrold, the King’s former butler, noted, “I think Meghan and Harry will want to go back to the States for Christmas this year. It’s where their friends and Meghan’s family are, so I believe they will want to spend the holidays there.”
Early Life and Foundations of Public Advocacy
Before her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan’s path to public life was defined by her career as an actress and her early interest in social activism. Born in Los Angeles in 1981, she gained widespread recognition playing Rachel Zane on the legal drama Suits from 2011 to 2018. During this period, she established a digital footprint through her lifestyle blog, The Tig, which ran from 2014 to 2017. Her commitment to advocacy began at an early age; when she was just 11 years old, she and her classmates wrote to Procter & Gamble to successfully urge the company to gender-neutralize a national television commercial for dishwashing soap.
Meghan’s focus on women’s issues and social justice predates her entry into the Royal Household. These themes remained central to her work even after she transitioned into her role as the Duchess of Sussex. Following her marriage, she continued to champion community-focused initiatives, including her support for the women who cooked for families affected by the Grenfell tower block fire. These experiences in community engagement and advocacy continue to inform the couple’s current approach to their independent professional identity as they navigate life as private citizens in the UK.
Archewell Inc.’s Structure and Mission
Archewell Inc. operates as a hybrid organization combining for-profit and not-for-profit entities, launched by Harry and Meghan in Beverly Hills after stepping down as working royals in January 2020. The organization serves as the vehicle for their independent professional and philanthropic work, distinct from official royal duties. According to the source material, Archewell Inc. was established following their relocation to Southern California and has supported initiatives aligned with their advocacy focus, including community projects and media productions.
Sources
- Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
- Meghan makes first official public appearance since moving back to UK
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issued dire 3-word warning over Christmas
Photo: Fuzheado (CC BY 4.0)
