Rumours have emerged recently that Prince William could strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their HRH titles when he becomes king.
But does the Prince of Wales have the power to make that move when he becomes monarch?
The Duchess of Sussex has recently come under fire for using her HRH title privately in a gift hamper to a friend.
When she and Harry stepped back from their senior royal roles in 2020, the palace announced that they would no longer use their HRH titles. However, a source for Meghan explained last week that the couple still have the titles but don’t use them for “commercial purposes”. The gift Meghan sent was private, and therefore, wasn’t commercial.
Prince William could ‘strip’ Harry and Meghan of their HRH titles when he becomes king, report claims
After Meghan’s gift hamper emerged in her recent podcast interview with friend and entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima alongside the note which included the title, backlash erupted online.
Many questioned why Meghan had used the title as a non-working royal. But a source for the duchess explained: “Harry and Meghan retain their HRH titles. However, by agreement, they do not use them for commercial purposes.”
Reports then claimed that William wasn’t happy with the move by Meghan. A source told the Daily Beast: “There is no way King William will stand for this. The titles will simply be removed when he is king. A way will be found.”
Can William remove Harry’s title?
But the question now remains, can William remove Harry and Meghan’s HRH titles when he becomes king?
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has explained to Royal Insider how it could work.
He said: “In theory he could but it would cause enormous trouble and controversy. It would need an act of Parliament to take away the Sussex dukedom which almost certainly won’t happen.
“They shouldn’t use the HRH but we know they do. However he will always be a prince and she is a princess. The matter is best left.”
What are Harry and Meghan’s titles now?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have the titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The late Queen Elizabeth II gave them the titles on their wedding day in May 2018.
Despite stepping back from their working royal roles, Harry and Meghan have kept their Sussex titles.
