Royal expert Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, stated on The Royal Beat that it’s unlikely Meghan Markle, 42, and Prince Harry, 39, will lose their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, despite stepping down from royal duties in 2020.
Implications of title loss
Seward explained, “If they lose their titles, Harry remains a prince by blood, and Meghan would be known as Princess Henry.” This change would adhere to royal tradition, where a princess takes her husband’s name. This rule also applies to Kate Middleton, who is technically Princess William but is commonly referred to as the Princess of Wales or the Duchess of Cambridge.
Seward believes it’s best to leave their titles unchanged, as removing them would appear unkind and unnecessary. “The Queen gave them the titles, let them keep them. They’re going to be ‘H and M’ anyway,” she said, emphasizing that the Palace and the Royal Family prefer to ignore the issue and let the couple live their lives.
Ongoing discussions
Royal author Tom Quinn recently revealed that King Charles III, 75, and Prince William, 41, have discussed stripping Meghan and Harry of their titles. However, they fear this action could backfire, giving the couple more grievances. Quinn noted, “Even without their royal titles, Meghan and Harry would continue to be welcomed as royals globally.”
Criticism and estrangement
Meghan and Harry have faced criticism for leveraging their royal titles without fulfilling traditional royal duties. The couple’s relationship with the royal family remains strained, especially after revealing insider details in projects like Harry’s memoir “Spare” and their Netflix documentary.
Since stepping down as senior royals, Meghan and Harry now reside in California with their two children, maintaining a contentious relationship with the UK’s royal family.