London, UK – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are officially back in the UK, but their return has already taken a big hit with a harsh letter from King Charles that "surprised" the royal couple.

The pair's unexpected homecoming appears to be raising many questions in the UK, prompting the British monarch to issue an official statement.

In the letter sent to various agencies, the 77-year-old monarch made it clear that Harry and Meghan will not be working members of the royal family again and, as a result, may not take on any official duties.

This also means the couple is outside the inner circle of the royal family and that the titles of "His and Her Royal Highnesses" should not be used.

Prince Harry Did King Charles just publicly shade Harry and Meghan? Stern letter formally clarifies their "royal status"

Now, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan has revealed that they were "surprised" by the bombshell letter, per NBC News.

The spokesperson said that the Sussexes were not allowed to contribute to the letter and that it had only been shared with their team just a few hours before it went public.

Palace sources, however, assured that Harry and Meghan had received the statement beforehand. They were not, however, consulted about its contents.

The couple stepped down from their official roles as working royals in 2020 and moved to the US.

The late Queen Elizabeth II had made it clear that there was no "half-in/half-out" option for Harry and Meghan and that they could not pursue commercial ventures while acting as working royals – a precedent King Charles seems to be upholding.