Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would 'relish publicity' of having royal titles stripped

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could actually benefit from having their royal titles stripped and the publicity it would bring them, a royal expert has claimed.

King Charles is reportedly "desperate" to remove their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - which where given to them as a wedding gift by the late Queen in 2018.

However just two years later, the couple stepped down from the roles as senior working royals and subsequently moved to Montecito, California, where they live with their two children - Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Since then, they have issued multiple damning statements about the Royal Family, prompting calls for their titles to be removed. Royal author Tom Quinn said this may only play into the Sussexes' hands as they "relish the publicity it would bring".

He told The Mirror: "Charles is desperate to strip Harry and Meghan of their royal titles, but he is worried that it will look vindictive and make a bad situation worse. He knows it would give Meghan and Harry’s another chance to claim they are being badly treated.

"Harry and Meghan would be hit hard by the loss of their royal titles but they would relish the publicity it would bring. They have always felt as if they are the victims in the family row and the loss of the titles would just confirm this. There would be a rush to give interviews filled with renewed complaints about how the family has once again kicked them in the teeth."

Quinn also explained that the Royal Family would be concerned that the couple could just ignore the situation entirely and "carry on as if nothing had changed".

He added: "The big worry for the palace is that Meghan and Harry would continue ignore the ruling from London and carry on as if nothing had changed - the Royal Family could hardly take them to court to stop them using something that suggested their former Royal status."

According to the royal author, King Charles and Prince William "have had lengthy discussions about stripping Meghan and Harry of their royal titles" but are "terrified this would backfire and make the situation worse".

Quinn continued: "The last thing they want is to give the renegade royals something else to complain about. William and his father know that even without their royal titles, Meghan and Harry would carry on travelling the world as if they were royals and most people in the world will still welcome them."

If the couple were to have their titles stripped, Prince Harry would still be a prince but Meghan would adopt the slightly bizarre title of Princess Henry. They both lost their HRH titles after leaving The Firm in 2020, but Prince Harry remains a prince by birth.

The process of stripping away royal titles is a lengthy one, which would only worsen the already tense relationship between the King and the Sussexes.

An Act of Parliament would need to be tabled and clear the legislative process before the King would be able to give assent and proceed with removing their titles.