According to a source, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could lose their royal titles after a summit at Balmoral. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s future responsibilities within the Royal Family will be discussed as the family gathers for a traditional summer getaway.
According to the “well-placed” source, the so-called “royal family summit” would discuss how the estranged couple fits into the monarchy over the next decade.
According to the Mirror, the insider stated: “The Royal Family are meeting at Balmoral to discuss a number of different things, but one of them will be the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“What people don’t realise is that the Balmoral gathering isn’t just a summer holiday. The family also participates in pre-arranged meetings where they discuss the family’s current position and how they can best prepare for the future.”
The insider stated that last year’s focus was on paying tribute to the Queen, given it was the King’s first time hosting since her death, while this year’s conversations will be about moving forward without the Sussexes’ full participation.
They explained: “Last year was very much about honouring the Queen as it was the King’s first time hosting the gathering since her death, but this will be about how the family can best move forward without the Sussexes.
“Not only will Harry and Meghan’s tours and upcoming trip to Canada be on the agenda, but also their titles and peerages will be up for discussion.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are set to embark on a semi-official tour to Colombia beginning August 15, got their titles from the late Queen Elizabeth II on their wedding day, May 19, 2018.
Prince Harry is officially known as The Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel, and Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon him the title of Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in June 2015.
Meghan Markle is officially known as the Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel. Following a request that the pair stop using their HRH style, it appears that they have rebelled against the Royal Family.
According to a source, while King Charles can simply rescind ‘given’ titles such as Prince, removing peerages may be more difficult. “There could be a challenge if any peerages are removed, so this is something that needs to be navigated extremely carefully.”
“The title of Prince and HRH are both gifts from the sovereign and can be stripped quite easily, but Harry’s Dukedom, Earldom and Barony will have to be removed by an Act of Parliament which could throw up a lot of unnecessary problems and unwanted media attention.”
According to the source, if Harry loses his Prince title, Archie and Lilibet may also lose theirs, however they can keep their Dumbarton titles and call to their parents simply as the Sussexes.
“It’s a difficult one to navigate because the King is very conscious about his grandchildren,” the source added.
“There have been ongoing discussions surrounding this matter, but no decisions have yet been made. This is something that will hopefully be concluded during talks between the King and other senior royals this summer.”
