Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could lose their royal titles following a summit at Balmoral a source has revealed. The future roles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex within the Royal Family will be up for discussion as the family gather for their traditional summer retreat,
According to the “well-placed” source the so-called “royal family summit” will address where the estranged couple fits in with the monarchy over the next decade.
According to the Mirror, the insider said: “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 explained that last year’s focus was on paying tribute to the Queen, as it marked the King’s first time hosting since her passing, but this year’s discussions will centre on 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.”
It’s noted that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are poised to embark on a semi-official tour to Colombia from August 15, received their titles from the late Queen Elizabeth II on their wedding day, May 19, 2018.
Prince Harry holds the official titles of The Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel, and was honoured with the title of Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2015.
Meghan Markle is formally known as The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton, and Baroness Kilkeel. Following a request for the couple to cease using their HRH style, it seems this may have sparked their rebellion against the Royal Family.
A source has indicated that while King Charles can easily revoke ‘gifted’ titles like Prince, removing peerages could be more complex they explained: “There could be a challenge made 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.”
The source also mentioned that if Harry were to lose his Prince title, Archie and Lilibet might lose theirs too, although they could still use the Dumbarton titles, with their parents being referred to 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.”