The Duke of Sussex, who was an officer for ten years in the Army, had his honorary military titles held after leaving the royal family.
Even though Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to step down as a senior royal in 2019, he was allowed to keep his military titles and patronages. However, things might change in the future. Reports say that he would lose it all amid concerns that his titles could be used to promote his Netflix documentaries and US talk shows. Rumors of him losing his titles swirled as Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are set to appear in an interview with their friend Oprah Winfrey.
Harry was said to be "upset" about the new development. The Duke of Sussex, who was an officer for ten years in the Army, had his honorary military titles held after leaving the royal family. However, there seem to be no chances of him retaining his beloved title as captain-general of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington, and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, as per the Sun. His patronages with the Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League, and the London Marathon are also likely to be gone, according to the Daily Mail.
"There is no secret that Americans love a Brit in army uniform. Harry is far more marketable pictured with his Army uniform at events in the UK than as a bloke in a shirt and chinos," a source told The Sun. Another added, "There would always be a suspicion military titles and patronages could end up being used on a documentary or television show somewhere. "Is this picture going to be used to promote something next time he has something coming out? There will always be that doubt. You can’t allow people to accuse you of doing it for your own interests. It’s unworkable."
He is not the only one who will be losing titles as Markle will have to step down as patron of the National Theatre. The Queen had that position for 45 years and in 2019, when Markle was given that role, it was seen as a gesture of affection. Their links with the Commonwealth are also set to go, as per Daily Mail.
Rather than wait until March 31, the royal family is expected to announce their decision sooner. The couple, who don't use their His/Her Highness titles, is expected to retain those along with their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, according to People. "Harry will always be a great ambassador for this country," a close royal insider said.
The tell-all interview with Winfrey was reportedly the last straw for the royal family. Markle, 39, has allegedly agreed to a "wide-ranging" interview, and it's believed that it has already been recorded. The duo is not just friends but also neighbors in California. Winfrey also attended the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding in 2018. She also helped promote a range of vegan lattes that Markle has helped finance.
The couple's commercial collaborations with Netflix and Spotify, which made them financially independent, make it harder for them to hold on to the royal titles. The Queen also believes that members of the family can't be "half in, half out," where they represent the royal family and make personal financial gains.
One source described the interview as "one of the most inevitable and, sadly, predictable consequences" of the couple's departure from the family. Prince Harry is also set to appear in the 90-minute show that will air in March on CBS. This will be the first time they will be speaking about their decision to leave Britain for the US. The news about the interview follows their announcement about them expecting a second child.
The couple said they were "overjoyed' at their pregnancy, which was revealed on Valentine's Day. The couple made the announcement with a sweet black and white photo.
References:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14069726/prince-harry-meghan-markle-queen-royal-patronages/
https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-prince-harry-likely-lose-official-royal-roles-soon/
Cover image source: Getty Images| Photos by WPA Pool
