The ongoing drama around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal titles continues to make waves. Right now they’re still officially called the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but that situation might not last much longer once there’s a change on the British throne.
What’s interesting is how differently King Charles and Prince William are handling this sensitive family matter. While the current king seems hesitant to take any action, those close to the royals say Prince William has already made up his mind about what he’ll do when it’s his turn to wear the crown.
The whole title situation goes back to early 2020 when Harry and Meghan made their dramatic exit from royal duties. At that time, they worked out a deal with Queen Elizabeth where they gave up using “HRH” (His/Her Royal Highness) before their names and returned their official royal patronages. But they were allowed to keep the Duke and Duchess titles the Queen had given them for their wedding.
Since moving to California, the couple has continued using these titles while building their own brand through deals with Netflix and other media projects. This has caused tension, as some in royal circles feel they’re taking advantage of their royal status while no longer serving the monarchy.
King Charles appears caught in the middle. Sources say he’s still hurt by Harry’s personal criticisms in the “Spare” memoir and doesn’t want to appear vengeful by stripping their titles. There’s also concern about how the British public would react, especially since Charles is still relatively new in his role as king.
But Prince William reportedly sees things very differently. Those close to him say he views Harry and Meghan’s continued use of royal titles while criticizing the institution as unacceptable. The recent moment on Meghan’s Netflix show where she emphasized “I’m Sussex now” apparently didn’t help matters, with some interpreting this as her flaunting the title for personal branding.
If William follows through when he becomes king, the process wouldn’t be simple. Removing royal titles requires approval from Parliament, which could become a messy public affair. But royal experts suggest William may be willing to face that challenge to uphold what he sees as the integrity of the monarchy.
For now, the titles remain, but the writing may be on the wall. This situation highlights the deep rift that still exists between Harry and the rest of the royal family, particularly his brother. It also shows how the monarchy is struggling to adapt to modern times when former working royals want to maintain some royal status while living independent, commercial lives.
The next few years could be crucial. If Harry and Meghan continue high-profile projects using their Sussex titles, it may only strengthen William’s resolve to take action when the time comes. On the other hand, if family relations improve, there’s always a chance this could all blow over. But given how things stand now, it seems increasingly likely that one of William’s first acts as king could be removing his brother’s royal titles.
