Royal Expert Claims Harry and Meghan Could Lose Their Titles Only if One Thing Were to Happen

Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their roles as senior royals, they were allowed to keep their titles. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have in fact built a brand using their ‘Sussex’ name. Reflecting on the same, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams opined that Harry and Markle are likely to lose their titles only if the UK Parliament intervenes.

Speaking to the Daily Express, Fitzwilliams said, “The only way the title could be removed would be by an Act of Parliament, which is highly improbable. In that unlikely case, Harry would still be a prince as he was born one.” He noted, “Meghan has made abundantly clear how fond she is of her title recently. She is intent on maximizing something which she knows has value.”

Fitzwilliams was alluding to Markle's new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, when she reprimanded Mindy Kaling for addressing her by her maiden name. She said on the show, “It's so funny that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know, I'm Sussex now.” Her Instagram handle and new fashion website also continue to cite her Sussex title. As per People magazine, Markle explained, “It’s our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadn’t recognized how meaningful that would be to me until we had children…I love that that is something that Archie, Lili, H, and I all have together.”

Despite Fitzwilliams' claims, The Daily Mail reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are quite likely to lose their royal titles. Sources suggest that it could happen if the couple makes further controversial claims in the media or if Prince William becomes king. A source told the outlet, “They are going to have real trouble with the use of Sussex. It is a royal title, and if there is any hint of commercialism about this, it will be shut down.” The decision to strip their titles was first raised after the pair criticized the royal family in their Oprah Winfrey interview and Netflix docuseries, Harry and Meghan.

Royal expert Mark Boardman told the Daily Express that if the Sussexes' title is stripped away, the pair’s finances may be in serious trouble. He added, “Financial penalties or contractual repercussions tied to their titles within existing contracts could amount to millions, particularly if lucrative commercial deals are affected to the tune of millions a year in lost income should the worst happen.” After their exit from the royal family, the Queen stripped Harry and Markle of their ‘HRH’ (His/Her Royal Highness) titles.