MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have officially been stripped of their honorary titles and patronages, as they confirmed they won’t be returning as senior royals.
Following their 12-month review of Megxit with the Queen, Buckingham Palace put out a statement saying the monarch was ‘saddened’ by the decision.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were officially stripped of their honorary titles and patronages
It said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family.
“Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.
“The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family.
“While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family.”
The decision was taken amid their 12-month review of Megxit and they confirmed they won’t be coming back as senior royals
The titles Prince Harry, 36, is likely to be stripped of is Captain-General Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant, RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command.
As part of the couple’s agreement with the Queen last year, Meghan and Harry retained their His/Her Highness titles but no longer use them, and they will still be officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Archie, currently seventh in line to the throne, remains a royal through his bloodline.
Meghan, 39, and Harry chose not to give him a royal title when he was born.
Archie could have been known as Archie, Earl of Dunbarton, using his father’s secondary title.
Royal historian, Marlene Koenig, pointed out: “By eschewing the courtesy title of Earl of Dumbarton, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are saying that their children will not be on the royal career path.
“Without the burden of a title – and no royal role to play – Archie will have a less constrained life, albeit with money and family connections, and with more opportunities outside the royal circle,” Town and Country reported.
The Queen conferred the title to Prince Harry on his wedding day to Meghan Markle, along with Baron Kilkeel, which he is referred to when in Northern Ireland, and the former when in Scotland.
The decision doesn’t affect Archie’s position as a royal and seventh in line to the throne
But Archie is still the heir to all three titles, including the Duke of Sussex, and he could still become a prince one day.
When his grandfather, Prince Charles, succeeds the throne, Archie, and his sibling, will move up a place in the line of succession.
Archie will automatically become a Prince, although he may not wish to use the title, and when he’s 18 he can decide if he wishes to be styled at His Royal Highness.
Archie’s little brother or sister will become eighth in line for the throne
The same will apply to Archie’s little brother or sister, and they’ll be eighth in line to the throne when they’re born.
Royal historian, Carolyn Harris, confirmed: “Archie will be able to use the title of HRH Prince when Charles becomes King, but it is possible that he will not use this title.
“Archie will not be able to pass the title of Prince or Princess to his children as they will be another generation removed from the sovereign, but the title of Duke of Sussex will pass to Prince Harry’s male line descendants,” Town and Country reported.
Prince Harry could have given Archie his secondary title to be styled as an Earl when he was born
Due to his proximity to the throne, if Archie wishes to wed before his three Cambridge cousins, he could need the Queen’s permission.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Iain MacMarthanne explained: “Prior to the Succession of the Crown Act 2013 all descendants of George II, under the terms of the Royal Marriages Act 1772, unless the issue of a princess who had married into a foreign royal family, had to obtain the sovereign’s permission to marry in order to retain their rights in succession.
“It might be anticipated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son, should he marry, will have to seek the sovereign’s permission unless one of his three cousins marry and have children first, as he will be sixth in line when his grandfather is king.”
Archie will automatically become a Prince when Charles ascends the throne although he may not use the title
Responding to the decision today to strip the Sussexes of their titles and patronages, the parents-to-be issued their own statement, saying they remained ‘committed’ to the UK.
It said: “As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role.
“We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”
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