Duke and Duchess of Sussex losing titles 'very much a possibility'

Francesca Specter
·Yahoo Style UK deputy editor
Updated

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry could lose their Royal Highness titles following today’s crisis talks at Sandringham, an expert has claimed.

The Queen will meet with members of the Royal Family today to discuss the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s future role within the institution, following their resignation as senior royals last Wednesday.

A number of issues are up for discussion, including the pair’s future royal duties and whether they will be able to maintain their royal residence, Frogmore Cottage.

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Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex react during their visit to Canada House in thanks for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada, in London on January 7, 2020. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex pictured during their visit to Canada House on 7 January 2020. [Photo: Getty]

The question of whether or not the pair can keep their titles will also be up for discussion, according to The Sun’s former royal editor Duncan Larcombe.

He tells Yahoo UK: “There’s a chance they could be [stripped of their royal titles].

“I think that would only happen if one of two things happened: a specific request of Prince Harry, or if the whole discussion just deteriorated into some sort of argument and the Queen had no choice but to say well he’s a liability, we’ve got to distance ourselves.

“Either way, it’s very much a possibility.”

It remains to be seen what form this would take: whether the couple would lose their Duke and Duchess titles, or simply the HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) with which their titles are styled.

In a poll conducted by the Daily Mail, some 47% of respondents said the couple should give up their right to use the HRH initials.

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This would not be unprecedented. Both Sarah, Duchess of York, and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, were stripped of the style “Her Royal Highness” after divorcing, respectively, Prince Andrew and Prince Charles.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles are now very much associated with Meghan and Harry, who last month trademarked the brand “Sussex Royal”.