King Charles III has drawn a firm "line in the sand" with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after sending a letter spelling out their royal standing.
The claim was made by British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told People magazine they were "surprised" by the timing of a letter circulated by Buckingham Palace clarifying their non-working royal status.
"King Charles' narrative is decisive as he draws a line in the sand — nothing new here, no more discussion required," Chard told Fox News Digital. "I'm sure the Sussexes expected flexibility. Prince Harry may be the king's son, but he lacks power to amend and dictate the monarch's statement."
KING CHARLES III CLARIFIES PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE WILL NOT RESUME ROYAL DUTIES AFTER UK MOVE
On Sept. 7, a senior palace official reiterated that Harry and Meghan are non-working royals, according to People magazine. The letter, which was issued on behalf of the king, was said to have been shared with the Sussexes. A spokesperson for the couple said they were "a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance," the BBC reported.
Those close to the couple told People magazine they received the letter and, 20 minutes later, sent back some questions. However, they were told that the letter had already been circulated to the media.
The letter issued by the Lord Chamberlain, Richard Benyon, Lord Benyon, at the king's direction, pointed out that the couple were "private citizens" and their His and Her Royal Highness styles remain in abeyance and are not used.
WATCH: KING CHARLES CONFIRMS PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE WILL NOT RETURN TO ROYAL DUTIES
Chard told Fox News Digital the guidance made one thing clear: they "do not represent the Crown."
"There is no ambiguity about who is in and who is out," she said. "The king is protecting the institution. The public has made it clear they do not want the monarchy to be undermined or damaged by confusion. The letter's statement puts minds at rest."
"In part, yes, the monarchy can only have one voice," Chard shared. "Prince William and Princess Catherine are the future king and queen. They officially speak for the crown alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla. It's constitutional, and the crown takes precedence."
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said there's another, more silent message the king wants to convey.
"The letter states the palace’s position, but it’s clearly intended as a put-down after the way the royals were blindsided by the Sussexes returning to Britain," he claimed.
"The Sussexes see themselves as public figures, not private citizens," he said. "So, they are ‘surprised,’ but are unlikely to alter their plans. The king was never going to debate anything with the Sussexes. The royals don’t debate, although Queen Elizabeth’s ‘recollections may vary’ is legendary."
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The couple relocated to Britain in August ahead of their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, starting school.
"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," stated the letter, as quoted by People. "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," it continued. "Their styles as His and Her Royal Highness remain in abeyance and are not used. 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."
Chard called it a "reality check" for the Sussexes.
"It shouldn’t have been a shock," she said. "The update was inevitable and warranted. Harry and Meghan unexpectedly swanned back to the U.K. and seemingly hoped to continue as if they were still working royals. The blurred lines created an air of confusion, with the majority wondering if Harry was back in the fold of the institution. The petty comment batted back from Team Sussex highlighted bruised egos."
"Allegedly the Sussexes were caught off guard. The irony when you consider Harry’s book ‘Spare,’ their Netflix documentaries and the Oprah interview catching the British royal family off guard over the years."
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According to People, Harry is preparing to kick off a series of charitable engagements that were planned well ahead of the couple’s return to the U.K. These events will highlight charities and causes he supports, including the Invictus Games. The next iteration of the sporting competition is taking place in 2027 in Birmingham, England.
However, Harry is already facing a rocky arrival.
On Sept. 9, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and head of the country's armed forces, announced that his country was withdrawing from the Invictus Games.
"In order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom, whom we deeply revere, Uganda hereby withdraws from the Invictus Games," he wrote on X. "We shall not participate in anything that does not have His Majesty's approval."
Gen. Kainerugaba also told The Times of London, "I have factions in the Ministry of Defence that support that Harry-Meghan nonsense. I had to quash it straight away. I support the monarch. Period."
A source close to Harry went on to tell People, "They made it very clear that the reason they pulled out was a direct result of perceived guidance from the Lord Chamberlain. This was an unintended or intended consequence of the letter — and that was always going to happen. Hence the wish not to rush it out."
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"The only people suffering as a result are the competitors from Uganda who would have been taking part in next year’s Invictus Games," the insider added.
British royal expert Hilary Fordwich wasn't buying it.
"Harry blaming this letter for Uganda pulling out of the Invictus Games is a ghastly move on his part," she said. "No doubt Harry and Meghan thought King Charles would accommodate their return or at least consult with them. But their expectations weren't relevant for the royals."
Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital he believes the letter has caused more harm than good in any peace talks Harry is willing to have with his estranged family.
"My personal opinion on the decision by King Charles to make public a letter conceived by the Lord Chamberlain to reiterate that Harry and Meghan were not working royals was an act of malicious intent initiated by those intending to disrupt their return," he explained.
"The message was unjustified," said Turner. "I hope Harry and Meghan will not rise to the bait and retaliate but calmly move on."
People reported that the king remains supportive of organizations and initiatives, like the Invictus Games, that help wounded service personnel. Palace insiders also pointed out that the letter does not represent a new policy but instead reiterates the terms agreed to at the 2020 "Sandringham Summit" led by the late queen. The family meeting took place shortly before Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals and moved to California.
Royal author Robert Jobson previously told The Daily Mail that "there won't be any war of words" between the king and his younger son.
"Perhaps predictably, there was an immediate response from the couple," he told the outlet. "But don’t expect to see anything similar coming from the palace. The king has no intention of being drawn into responding further."
While the Sussexes have returned to the U.K. for an extended stay, they won't resume their roles as working royals. They will live in a private, nonroyal residence outside London while maintaining their California home and a property in Portugal.