At first, Prince Harry’s title seemed simple—just “Prince Harry.” However, his departure from official royal duties and subsequent estrangement from his family led to a change in his titles.
Currently, Harry’s full title is Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. He also holds the titles of Earl of Dumbarton and Baron of Kilkeel, although these are of lesser importance.
Prince Harry No Longer Holds the Honorific “His Royal Highness” (HRH)
Although he remains a prince, the title “His Royal Highness” no longer comes before Prince Harry’s name. This change was clearly communicated by Buckingham Palace in January 2020, stating, “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles, as they are no longer active members of the Royal Family.”
Furthermore, the official royal website has been updated recently to remove the HRH title from Prince Harry’s name. Nonetheless, his status as the Duke of Sussex remains unchanged… at least for now.
Up to this point, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have retained their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, given to them by the Queen upon their marriage. However, speculation and conflicting reports have suggested that these titles might be revoked due to Prince Harry’s tell-all memoir titled “Spare.”
Let’s Recap: What’s Been Going on With Their Titles?
Here’s a brief overview of the developments related to these title discussions:
- January 2020: The Evening Standard reported that the Queen considered removing Meghan and Harry’s titles and giving Harry the title of Earl of Dumbarton. This idea was eventually dismissed.
- October 2022: Royal expert Katie Nicholl mentioned on GB News (via The Express) that uncertainty surrounds the future of Harry and Meghan’s titles, especially if their actions are seen as damaging the monarchy’s reputation.
- January 2023: With the release of “Spare” and the Netflix documentary series “Harry & Meghan,” insiders told Us Weekly that a decision needs to be made about keeping their titles. The possibility of removing their titles remains if the current tensions continue.
- April 2023: Author Robert Jobson wrote in “Our King: Charles III” that discussions have taken place at the highest levels about possibly removing Harry’s Duke of Sussex title. If Harry continues to criticize the monarchy, Charles might have to decide whether to endure the damage or take action to contain it. This could result in Harry and Meghan being demoted to the titles of Mr. and Mrs. Mountbatten-Windsor of Montecito, California.
- August 2023: Jobson updated The Express, stating that a source close to the Royal Family denied the possibility of stripping titles and confirmed that even if Meghan becomes a president, they won’t lose their titles or place in the line of succession.
Prince Harry Stands Firm in Keeping His Title
During a 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper, Prince Harry was asked if he would renounce his titles. He responded to Anderson’s question, “Why not renounce your titles as duke and duchess?” with, “And what difference would that make?”
So, what’s next? We’re basically in a waiting game, hoping the royals will spill the beans and give us more clarity.