Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are already facing fresh royal drama just days after returning to Britain.

King Charles has reportedly made it crystal clear that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not returning as working royals, sending a formal letter reminding officials that the couple are to be treated as private citizens.

But the move apparently caught Harry and Meghan off guard.

According to reports, Charles, 77, sent the letter to senior royal representatives, government officials and military figures, stressing that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, no longer carry out official royal duties.

The couple’s HRH titles also remain effectively shelved.

A spokesman for Harry and Meghan quickly made their displeasure known.

“We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance,” the spokesman said.

However, Palace sources are pushing back on that claim.

According to the Daily Mail, the Sussexes were reportedly sent a copy of Charles’ letter before it was released, although they were not consulted about what it would say.

The timing has also raised eyebrows because Harry and Meghan are still fighting over their security arrangements in Britain.

The couple reportedly want round-the-clock protection during their stays in the U.K., while Meghan has privately expressed concerns about her safety, including fears surrounding school runs with their children.

The latest dispute is hardly the royal reunion either side would have wanted so soon after Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain.

And security is not the only issue creating tension.

Reports have also suggested Harry and Meghan do not completely agree about just how involved they should become with the royal family again.

Meghan is said to remain firmly committed to the life the couple have built in California, while Harry has reportedly become more interested in revisiting some version of the “half-in, half-out” arrangement they originally hoped for when they stepped away from royal duties in 2020.

That proposal was rejected by the Royal Family at the time.

The disagreement comes as Harry prepares for the Invictus Games in Birmingham, England, next July.

A source claimed Meghan believes the question of her royal role was settled years ago.

“Meghan’s position is that the question was settled years ago,” the insider said. “She isn’t interested in recreating a hybrid royal existence now that they have established an entirely different future in America.”

The source said Meghan still supports Harry maintaining a relationship with his father and continuing charitable work that matters to him in Britain.

But that does not mean she wants to return to royal life herself.

“She supports Harry having a relationship with his father and pursuing the work that matters to him in Britain, but that doesn’t mean she wants to become a working member of the Royal Family again,” the source said.

Harry, meanwhile, is reportedly more open to rebuilding some of the royal ties the couple left behind.

According to the insider, Harry believes there may now be an opportunity to regain part of the arrangement he and Meghan originally wanted.

Meghan reportedly sees things very differently.

The couple’s businesses, home and children’s lives are now firmly based in California, and she allegedly believes returning to royal duties would mean giving up too much of the independence they have gained since leaving Britain.

Another major sticking point is Harry’s reported desire to establish a permanent base in the U.K.

Harry is said to believe having a home near Windsor would make visits easier and allow their children to develop stronger ties to Britain.

Meghan, however, reportedly has little interest in moving back — even on a part-time basis.

“Harry believes having somewhere near Windsor would make regular visits easier and give the children stronger connections with Britain, but Meghan doesn’t see relocating to the U.K., even part time, as part of her future,” the insider claimed.

For now, Charles’ letter appears to have drawn another firm line in the sand: Harry and Meghan may be back in Britain, but as far as the Palace is concerned, they are not back as working royals.