Meghan Markle Keeps Building As Ever as King Charles Draws a Firm Line Around the Sussexes’ Royal Status

Meghan Markle is pressing ahead with her lifestyle business even as King Charles III has made one point unmistakably clear: Prince Harry and Meghan remain private citizens, not working members of the Royal Family.

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, has continued promoting As Ever, sharing a new image on the brand’s official Instagram account and sending products to influencers just hours after Buckingham Palace publicly clarified the couple’s status following their return to Britain.

The timing has placed Meghan’s growing commercial presence alongside one of the clearest statements yet from the King about where the Sussexes stand within the monarchy.

Meghan’s latest As Ever appearance

In the new photograph, Meghan is pictured outdoors with Pula, the black Labrador she and Prince Harry adopted shortly after their wedding in 2018.

The Duchess appears to be gathering produce from her garden while gently petting the dog. The image appears to have been taken at the couple’s Montecito home, as Meghan is wearing the same shirt, linen skirt and wide-brimmed straw hat seen in an earlier shoot.

Her outfit includes a high-waisted pencil skirt from Posse, priced at around $320, paired with a striped silk shirt from Matteau costing $775. Her face is partly hidden by a $200 Sarah Bray Bermuda “Wildflower” sun hat.

Meghan captioned the post: “Long weekend plans with As ever.”

Pula also carries a personal connection for the Sussexes. The dog’s name refers to Botswana’s currency, a nod to the country where Harry and Meghan took their first trip together after beginning their relationship in 2016.

The latest post follows Meghan’s recent promotion of As Ever products, including her strawberry spread and a new sparkling wine.

The Napa Valley Reserve Brut, described as a celebratory wine, sells for $55 a bottle and combines pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot blanc. It is currently available only as part of a three-bottle bundle.

Meghan has also unveiled a new blackberry spread and continued sending PR packages to influencers. New York-based lifestyle creator Olivia McDowell recently shared an image featuring an As Ever jar, one of the brand’s scented candles and a handwritten note from the Duchess.

A commercial future alongside a possible return to charity work

While As Ever remains a major focus for Meghan, she is also reportedly considering a renewed role in charitable work now that her family has returned to Britain.

Meghan is believed to be considering reconnecting with causes she previously supported, including Smart Works, the charity that helps unemployed and vulnerable women prepare for work.

After marrying Harry in 2018, Meghan held four patronages. Smart Works was the only one she continued supporting after she and Harry stepped away from royal duties.

A source close to Meghan said she wants to reconnect with people and become involved with causes she previously cared about, as well as new causes.

Any future charity activity, however, would be undertaken privately rather than as official royal work.

That distinction has become particularly important following the King’s latest intervention.

King Charles makes the Sussexes’ position clear

On September 7, a letter issued under the direction of King Charles and sent to senior government, military and royal representatives formally reiterated that Harry and Meghan remain non-working members of the Royal Family.

The letter was intended to prevent confusion over their position after their return to the UK.

It confirmed that the couple will continue not to use the HRH styles, which have remained in abeyance since they stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Their charitable activities are also considered personal rather than official royal work.

In short, the letter described their position as being akin to that of private citizens with commercial and charitable interests.

The clarification is significant because Harry and Meghan have returned to Britain after spending six years in the United States. Their move had prompted renewed speculation about what role they might play in British public life.

The King’s message appears designed to draw a firm boundary between any future public activities by the Sussexes and the official work carried out by working members of the Royal Family.

Harry and Meghan say they were surprised

The timing of the letter has also become a point of tension.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said the couple were “a little surprised” that they had not been told about the letter in advance.

According to reports, their team received the contents shortly before the document was released to the media, leaving little time to respond or clarify certain points. Palace sources, however, disputed the suggestion that the couple had been unaware of the letter before its publication, saying the document had been shared with Harry’s team ahead of its release.

The Palace has also stressed that the letter was not intended to alter the couple’s existing status. Instead, it was issued to reinforce the position established when Harry and Meghan stepped away from official royal duties.

The letter further made clear that questions involving public funds or official courtesies should be directed to Buckingham Palace, while operational security matters remain the responsibility of the relevant authorities.

The security question remains unresolved

The clarification came as attention remained focused on the Sussexes’ security arrangements following their return to Britain.

Harry and Meghan have continued seeking protection arrangements while living in the UK, with the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as RAVEC, responsible for decisions concerning royal and VIP security.

The couple’s return has therefore placed their private status alongside questions about the level of protection they may receive while in Britain.

The King’s letter made clear that their private-citizen status does not change the established distinction between their personal activities and official royal duties.

Harry makes his first public appearance since returning

The Palace statement was also released as Prince Harry made his first public appearance in Britain since returning from the United States.

He was photographed at Tower Bridge Studios in London, where he was seen smiling and signing a mural on a wall. He is reportedly involved in a “mystery project,” although further details were not provided.

The appearance came as speculation continued over how Harry and Meghan will navigate their new life in Britain.

For Meghan, that future currently appears to involve a combination of her As Ever business, potential charitable work and family life as Archie and Lilibet settle into school in the UK.

But the message from Buckingham Palace leaves little room for ambiguity: whatever comes next for the Sussexes, their public and commercial activities will remain separate from the official work of the Royal Family.