Removal of Harry and Meghan's HRH titles 'backfires' on King Charles, says expert

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle caused a few rumblings within circles close to the monarchy after their recent rip to Nigeria was dubbed a 'mini royal tour'.

There's been increasing speculation about whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will lose their titles, which some speculated allows the couple to seek 'royal' treatment on overseas visits, following their decision to step down as senior members of 'the Firm' in 2020.

But as we reported earlier this week, they're unlikely to be stripped of the monikers, because the Royal Family has opted to "ignore them and let them get on with it," an expert claimed.

The couple, who have distanced themselves from the Royal Family, now reside in Montecito, California, with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Harry and Meghan lost their ability to use their HRH titles in 2020 when the couple decided to take a step back from royal duties. Harry remained a Prince, and the couple kept their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, but are no longer addressed as His/Her Royal Highness (HRH).

He also gave up his military titles and no longer wears army uniform in public. However, as we previously reported, it seems that King Charles has been paying a high price for the removal of the California-based couple's HRH titles - because it reportedly further fuelled their desire to speak out.

As the Sunday Times’ royal editor Roya Nikkhah said: “If the past years have shown anything since the Sussexes stepped down from royal duties, it is that banning them from using their HRH titles has only emboldened them to take on all the battles that royal life once prevented them from entering”.

Prince Harry has been on a 'truth-telling' spree for the past few years, taking part in a number of high profile interviews, as well as his and Meghan's 2022 Netflix documentary, and his 2023 tell-all memoir Spare.

The allegations in Spare rocked the world, with many shocked at the claims including a bitter feud between Prince William and Harry.

In the memoir, Harry wrote: “(William) called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor.

“I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”

Furthering the spat between the brothers, he also revealed that the alleged altercation took place at Harry’s then home in Nottingham Cottage, on the grounds of Kensington Palace, when William is said to have called Meghan “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive”.

Later in the memoir, the duke also claimed King Charles pleaded with his sons to stop fighting at Windsor after the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.

In a tense meeting, a grieving Charles told his sons: “Please, boys. Don’t make my final years a misery,” Harry claims.

Harry further slammed his brother - whom he previously had a close relationship with - alleging that in 2005 William and Kate Middleton urged him to wear a Nazi uniform complete with a swastika armband to a fancy dress party.

Despite the tension, however, according to Royal commentator Ingrid Seward, Meghan and Harry's titles are "here to stay" and the Royal Family are taking a subtle approach to how they deal with them following their recent Invictus Games visit to Nigeria.

She explained that if their titles were taken away, Meghan would simply adopt a new one.

Ingrid clarified: "I don't think anything will happen to the titles. Because if they lose their titles, Harry is still a prince of the blood and Meghan instead of being the Duchess of Sussex, would be Princess Henry. That really would confuse the Americans."

While appearing on The Royal Beat earlier last month, Ingrid suggested it would appear "unkind and unnecessary" for the Royal Family to strip Meghan and Harry of their Sussex titles.

She went on: "I think the best thing is to leave them, ignore them, and let them get on with it - which is really what the Palace and the Royal Family are doing."

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