Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to the U.K., but they remain private citizens and are not working royals. Only 11 members of the royal family perform formal public duties, and a majority are aged 75 or older. The list includes King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne and several senior relatives. High-profile figures such as Prince Andrew no longer perform royal duties after scandal and formal renunciations.
Harry And Meghan Have Returned To The U.K. — But They Remain Private Citizens; Meet The 11 Working Royals
There are 11 working members of the royal family.WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved back to the U.K., but their status within the monarchy has not changed: they are private citizens and not part of the official roster of working royals. The monarchy’s public duties are carried out by a relatively small group — just 11 people — many of whom are senior in age.
King Charles has an enlarged prostate and will be hospitalized for treatment.WPA Pool / Getty Images
Who Counts As A Working Royal
Working royals represent the monarchy at public engagements ranging from charitable events and public ceremonies to state visits. Children and more distant relatives, including Prince George and other youngsters, do not perform duties in an official capacity.
Queen Camilla.Pool/Getty Images
The 11 Current Working Royals
King Charles III (77)
As sovereign, King Charles remains the head of state and the most senior working royal. After a period of reduced public-facing activity while receiving cancer treatment in early 2024, he resumed a fuller schedule in April 2024 and has continued with official duties and state business.
Prince William and Kate Middleton at a charity polo match in July 2026.Chris Jackson/Getty Images for DMMI Royal Charity Polo Cup
Queen Camilla (79)
Camilla, the queen consort, supports the king at public engagements and charity events. She took on fuller public responsibilities after Charles’s accession and performs a range of duties on behalf of the monarchy.
Prince William and Princess Anne attend the funeral of King Harald V of Norway in September 2026.Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage/Getty Images
The Prince And Princess Of Wales — Prince William (44) And Catherine (44)
The heir apparent and his wife regularly carry out high-profile tours and engagements. Kate paused duties in early 2024 while undergoing cancer treatment, returned to major public events in mid-2024, completed chemotherapy in September 2024 and announced in January 2025 that she was in remission.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, in June 2026.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Princess Anne, The Princess Royal (76)
A tireless public servant, Princess Anne has carried out engagements since her late teens. She remains one of the busiest royals and frequently represents the family at national and international events.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attend the Royal Ascot in June 2026.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
The Duke And Duchess Of Edinburgh — Prince Edward (62) And Sophie (61)
Prince Edward and Sophie, who received the Edinburgh titles in 2023, focus on youth programmes (including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award), the arts, and community and charitable work.
The Duke of Kent attends Wimbledon in July 2026.Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
The Duke And Duchess Of Gloucester — Prince Richard (82) And Birgitte (80)
Prince and Princess of Gloucester are long-serving members of the working roster, appearing at ceremonial events and supporting various charities and public institutions.
Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy, at Buckingham Palace in April 2026.Jordan Pettitt - Pool/Getty Images
The Duke Of Kent (Prince Edward, 90)
A senior royal with decades of service, the Duke of Kent continues to represent the monarchy at commemorations and other formal occasions.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in April 2026.Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty Images
Princess Alexandra (89)
Princess Alexandra remains active in public life, attending memorials, receptions, and ceremonial events on behalf of the royal family.
Prince Andrew has lost his royal titles following scandals involving Jeffrey Epstein and an alleged Chinese spy.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Where Harry And Meghan Stand
Prince Harry (42) and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (45), formally stepped back from senior royal roles in January 2020 and relocated to North America, where they pursued private careers and commercial projects. Although the couple and their children returned to the London area and enrolled in U.K. schools in 2026, a September 2026 letter from the Lord Chamberlain on behalf of King Charles clarified that their physical return does not change their status: they remain private citizens, continue to have commercial and charitable interests, and are not reinstated as working royals or allowed to use HRH styles for outside engagements.
Former Working Royals: Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew was stripped of military roles and royal patronages in 2022 amid controversy tied to his association with Jeffrey Epstein and related legal claims. In October 2025 he formally relinquished royal titles and said he would no longer use them. He has denied the allegations and settled a civil claim in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing.
Why The Roster Matters
Although the extended royal family includes many relatives, the number of official, working royals is intentionally small to focus public duties on a manageable group. That compact roster — currently 11 people — performs the bulk of public-facing engagements for the monarchy while other family members remain private or carry out limited, informal roles.
Bottom line: Harry and Meghan’s return to the U.K. is notable, but it did not change their constitutional or official status: the monarchy’s working roster remains limited and defined by the Crown and senior officials.
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