Queen strips Harry and Meghan of their HRH style, as the head of the British Royal family, takes a strong stand and following precedence in handling the issue of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Royal after bombshell statement.
The Queen in a statement released on Saturday 18th January 2020, ruled that Harry and Meghan will no longer be allowed to use or trade on their royal titles, UK Evening Standard reports.
Her Majesty has decided the royal couple have been banned from using the HRH Style, but has allowed the pair to retain the titles.
Harry will still be a Prince and they are both members of the royal family – but will from now on known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
It remained unclear on Saturday night if the couple can use the Sussex Royal name on their website or for their business deals.
The new arrangement after the pair announced they want to quit as senior royals – will be reviewed in a year by the Queen and royal family.
They are now free to pursue commercial deals with no oversight from the Queen, but they say they will respect the Monarchy when making those deals.
Prince Charles will continue to support his son and daughter-in-law in the meantime while they spend the “majority” of their time in North America.
But they will retain their Windsor home and pay commercial rent on the property given to them by the Queen.
The statement from the Queen was conciliatory and royal aides said the discussions were conducted in a calm way.
They insisted the couple would continue to be valued members of the royal family – and will stay take part in family events when invited by the Queen.
The statement read: “They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties.
“With The Queen’s blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.
The new arrangement – after the pair announced they want to quit as senior royals – will be reviewed in a year by the Queen and royal family.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home
They will also pay the running costs on the property.
Buckingham Palace said it does not comment on the details of security arrangements for Harry, Meghan and Archie going forward.
Aides said the couple currently have no commercial deals signed, but sources say there will be no oversight of those deals by the Queen.
Sources added they are free to seek work.
Harry was given the title the Duke of Sussex by his grandmother the Queen on the morning of his wedding. Meghan became HRH the Duchess of Sussex after saying her vows.
Their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, is not an HRH – nor a prince – as he is too far down the line of succession from the monarch.
Harry and Meghan could have used the courtesy title Earl of Dumbarton for him, or he was entitled to be Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
But they took the personal decision to make him a plain Master, most likely inspired by Harry’s wish to have been a normal child, rather than a prince, as he grew up.
Archie will, however, be entitled to be HRH and a prince when the Prince of Wales accedes to the throne – although Harry and Meghan almost certainly will not opt for this now.
Harry’s mother was stripped of her HRH style and her title the Princess of Wales – becoming Diana, Princess of Wales following her divorce from the Prince of Wales in 1996.
The Duke of York’s ex-wife, who was HRH the Duchess of York, became Sarah, Duchess of York after they split.
The abdicated Edward VIII became the Duke of Windsor and finally married American divorcee Wallis Simpson while in exile in France in 1937, and none of the royal family attended. But he kept his HRH style.
A Letters Patent by his brother, the new King George VI, decreed that Edward “having been born in the lineal succession to the Crown” should be “entitled to hold and enjoy for himself
only the style title or attribute of Royal Highness”.
Mrs Simpson became the Duchess of Windsor, but was never permitted to adopt the style of an HRH, with George VI’s Letters Patent forbidding it, the report added.