King Charles III is facing renewed calls from royal commentator Richard Eden to consider removing the royal titles held by Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The debate comes against the backdrop of the Sussexes’ decision to step back as working members of the Royal Family in 2020. While Harry and Meghan no longer carry out official royal duties, their titles remain in place. The Royal Family’s current official website continues to identify them as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Richard Eden points to Denmark
Eden, a Daily Mail royal commentator, has argued that King Charles could look to the Danish monarchy for an example of a more decisive approach to royal titles.
His comments refer to a major change announced by Denmark’s former monarch, Queen Margrethe II, in 2022.
Margrethe removed the prince and princess titles from the four children of her younger son, Prince Joachim. From January 1, 2023, they were instead known as counts and countesses of Monpezat.
The decision was presented by the Danish royal household as a way of allowing the children to shape their own lives without being constrained by the special considerations and obligations associated with a formal royal affiliation.
Eden has drawn a contrast between that decision and the situation involving Harry and Meghan.
“Margrethe’s decisive action is in stark contrast to the absence of any moves by King Charles against his younger son,” Eden said.
He argued that the Sussexes had retained their titles despite no longer being working members of the Royal Family, while Archie and Lilibet had also retained their princely titles.
Eden has therefore called on Charles to consider following the Danish example, while acknowledging that such a move would be likely to cause further tension with Harry.
Harry and Meghan stepped back in 2020
Harry and Meghan announced in January 2020 that they would step back from their roles as working members of the Royal Family.
The arrangement agreed with the late Queen Elizabeth II meant they would no longer carry out official royal duties or receive public funds for those duties.
Buckingham Palace also stated at the time that the couple would not use their HRH styles because they were no longer working members of the Royal Family.
Their existing titles, however, were not removed.
Today, the Royal Family’s official website continues to list Harry and Meghan as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, while their two children are listed as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
The official royal succession list also continues to place Harry, Archie and Lilibet in the line of succession, at positions five, six and seven respectively.
Why the issue remains controversial
The question of royal titles has become part of the wider debate over what status should be retained by members of the Royal Family who no longer undertake official duties.
Supporters of a stricter approach argue that royal titles should be closely connected to active service to the Crown and formal responsibilities.
Others point to the distinction between holding a title and carrying out official duties. Harry and Meghan’s 2020 agreement removed their working-royal role and use of HRH styles without stripping them of their Duke and Duchess titles.
The current official position reflects that distinction: the Sussexes are no longer working members of the Royal Family, but they remain formally titled members of the wider royal family.
For now, there has been no official announcement that King Charles intends to remove the Sussex titles. The Royal Family’s current published materials continue to use the titles Duke and Duchess of Sussex for Harry and Meghan and Prince and Princess for their children.
Eden’s intervention therefore represents a commentator’s call for a change in royal policy, rather than an announced decision by the King.