King Charles has been urged to strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as their children, of their titles. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have quit the Royal Family in 2020; however, they still retain their princely titles and HRH styles.
Harry and Meghan have agreed not to use them for commercial purposes. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, also have royal titles. The Sussex family’s titles have been at the centre of discussions following their sensational exit from the Firm.
Royal commentator’s call to action
But a royal commentator urged the King to draw inspiration from his European cousins and make the bold move.
The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden said: “The Royal Family have always seemed to me to have a slightly condescending attitude to their continental cousins.”
“While European monarchs have regularly travelled to this country for big occasions such as royal weddings, ours haven't always returned the compliment.”
“More often than not, it's been Prince Edward who's been dispatched to a royal wedding overseas rather than our monarch or even our heir to the throne.”
Danish example cited
Mr Eden added: “What struck me most was how King Charles could learn a thing or two from some of the foreign monarchies.”
He noted of the Danish Royal Family, who have “much in common with our own”. Denmark’s Margrethe abdicated on January 2024, just a month following her announcement to the nation. It followed a bombshell decision in 2022, which axed the titles from four of her eight grandchildren.
Her younger son, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie’s children, Count Nikolai, Count Felix, Count Henrik, and Countess Athena, would not be styled as Prince or Princess and His/Her Highness but would remain in line to the throne from January 2023.
Impact on the monarchy
It was said at the time that the monarch Margrethe wanted to “create the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark as an institution involves”.
Joachim and Marie relocated from their home in France to Washington in the summer of 2023, due to the prince's new job at the Danish Embassy under the Ministry of Defence. They are tipped to return to Norway in August 2027.
Mr Eden added: “Margrethe's decisive action is in stark contrast to the absence of any moves by King Charles against his younger son. Not only have Harry and Meghan been allowed to keep their titles, but their children remain Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.”
“It's time for the King to follow the example of his Danish counterpart and take action which will undoubtedly upset his younger son but will benefit the monarchy and the country.”
