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Weird official title Meghan Markle would have if she was no longer a duchess

01 June 2024 , 07:00
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Meghan would have seriously weird royal title if she wasn
Meghan would have seriously weird royal title if she wasn't a duchess

Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex left life as working royals behind, there have been intermittent calls from some quarters to strip them of their royal titles.

From allegations about the royal household leaking stories about them, to brokering deals with major companies like Netflix and Spotify, some of Meghan and Harry's moves since stepping down have raised eyebrows, and prompted some commentators to accuse them of profiting from their royal status.

Most recently, Meghan and Harry launched a new website using Meghan's royal coat of arms, and the Duchess has also launched her new business venture - American Riveria Orchard, which was branded "by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex" on its official Instagram and website.

However, if the titles 'Duke and Duchess of Sussex' were removed from the couple officially - which would take an act of parliament - Meghan would still have a royal title anyway, and it's a pretty weird one, as one royal expert points out.

Because Harry is a prince by birth, if the Dukedom given to him by the late Queen Elizabeth upon his marriage to Meghan were removed, he would still retain the title of prince, and Meghan would be known as Princess Henry. This is similar to another royal, Princess Michael of Kent - who also uses the feminine style of her husband's title, as is tradition, because she is married into the Royal Family and Prince Michael doesn't have another title.

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Royal expert Ingrid Seward - editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine - explained, "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]. I think [it's] probably best just to leave it because it looks unkind, it looks unnecessary."

The expert also noted, "The Queen gave them the titles, let them keep them - they're going to be 'H and M' anyway. 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."

Whilst Harry did have the 'His Royal Highness' style removed when he stepped back as a working royal, as did his wife, he will always be a prince, and since Charles became monarch Archie and Lilibet have the right to the title Prince and Princess too.

Do you have a story to tell? Email: emma.mackenzie@reachplc.com

Emma Mackenzie

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