In a quiet but notable update, the official website of the British royal family has made changes to its pages related to members of the royal household, including removing detailed profiles for Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. This change, first observed in early 2025, comes as part of an ongoing effort by King Charles III’s office to streamline the public-facing information about the monarchy and clarify the distinction between working and non-working royals.
As reported by BBC and The Telegraph, the update aligns with broader efforts to modernize the monarchy under King Charles’s reign and reflect the couple’s non-working status following their decision to step back from official royal duties in 2020.
Historical Context: Harry and Meghan’s Transition
In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they would step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family. The move, later formalized through a mutual agreement with Queen Elizabeth II’s office, involved relinquishing royal patronages and no longer using the HRH titles in a working capacity. The couple has since focused on philanthropy, media projects, and advocacy through their Archewell Foundation, based in the United States.
Despite the physical and professional distance, Harry and Meghan have continued to express respect for the monarchy, and Prince Harry has maintained ties with the royal family through private visits, including appearances at the Queen’s funeral in 2022 and King Charles’s coronation in 2023.
Website Changes Reflect Current Roles
The royal.uk website, which serves as the digital representation of the British monarchy, previously listed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex under the “Members of the Royal Family” section. This section primarily includes individuals actively engaged in royal duties on behalf of the Crown.
As of May 2025, their individual pages are no longer accessible through the main navigation. This is consistent with how the site now lists only working royals, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Anne, among others.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are still recognized as members of the royal family by title, and archival references remain available via media archives and official royal statements. The website adjustment is seen by royal analysts not as punitive, but as a reflection of their changed roles since their departure from full-time royal service.
Public Reaction and Expert Commentary
While some royal observers have noted the symbolic significance of the change, no official statement from Buckingham Palace or King Charles has linked the website update to any disciplinary or personal motivations. In a segment on Sky News, royal commentator Roya Nikkhah described the update as a “routine administrative change” that brings the digital platform in line with the monarchy’s slimmed-down model of public engagement.
The removal has reignited public interest in the relationship between Harry, Meghan, and the royal household, which has faced scrutiny since the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and subsequent public statements. However, reputable sources including The Guardian and People Magazine note that no new rift has been reported, and the couple continues to be referred to with their titles in public settings, where appropriate.
Meghan Markle’s Public Position and Advocacy
Since relocating to California, Meghan Markle has focused on a wide array of public initiatives, including women’s rights, mental health, media literacy, and community support. Through Archewell, she and Prince Harry have collaborated with organizations like the World Central Kitchen, NAACP, and UN Women.
In interviews over the past two years, Meghan has emphasized her desire to maintain a respectful relationship with the royal family and has spoken about both the challenges and joys of her time in the UK. In a March 2022 podcast episode of Archetypes.
King Charles’s Modern Monarchy
As King Charles III continues to implement his vision of a streamlined royal household, analysts expect further organizational changes within royal institutions. The reduction of official public-facing roles is in line with what Charles has long advocated—a monarchy focused on a smaller number of full-time working royals actively involved in engagements, state functions, and charitable patronages.
According to a February 2025 report by The Times, royal aides are working to modernize the monarchy’s public communications, which includes simplifying the royal website to reflect active royal participants. These moves aim to enhance clarity and transparency for the British public, media, and international audiences.
No Official Indication of Personal Conflict
Although speculation often surrounds the Sussexes’ relationship with the royal family, particularly in tabloids, verified reporting from mainstream sources like Reuters, BBC, and The New York Times has not indicated any recent personal altercation or fallout that would explain the timing of the website change.
In fact, royal biographers and analysts have noted that such digital updates typically follow procedural reviews and are not usually the result of reactive decisions or individual emotions.
What the Change Really Means
The adjustment to the royal family website serves a symbolic and organizational purpose: distinguishing between those who represent the monarchy in an official capacity and those who do not. It does not imply a change in family status, nor does it remove titles that were granted through peerage.
As long as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex retain their titles and are acknowledged in ceremonial contexts where appropriate, the website revision is best understood as a form of digital housekeeping—rather than a dramatic political statement.
Conclusion
The removal of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s profiles from the royal family’s official website reflects a broader transformation under King Charles III’s reign to align public platforms with the modern structure of the monarchy. Far from erasing their contributions or titles, the change signals the Crown’s intent to clearly define who presently serves in an official capacity on behalf of the monarch.
As Prince Harry and Meghan continue their journey outside the UK, focusing on charitable work and family life, their legacy within the royal narrative remains preserved—just no longer featured on the list of active working royals. And in that distinction lies the continued evolution of the modern British monarchy.
Sources:
- Royal.uk – The Royal Family Official Website
- BBC News
- People Magazine
- The Guardian
- The Telegraph
- Reuters
- Sky News
- The Times UK
Disclaimer: “This article is based on publicly available information and does not include confidential or speculative content.”
