Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced loss of military titles, royal patronages, and security arrangements after stepping back from the British Royal Family in 2020. Their post-royal life decisions and actions continue to impact their relationship with the Royal Family.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Lose Numerous Titles and Patronages Post-Royal Life
In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their roles as senior members of the British Royal Family, leading to the forfeiture of several titles and patronages. Notably, Prince Harry lost his military titles, including Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving. He is also prohibited from wearing his military uniforms at state events, though he was granted special permission to don one at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
Additionally, the couple no longer use their HRH titles, although they retain the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Meghan Markle lost her royal patronages of The National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, which were reassigned to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Their security arrangements also changed, as their Royal-supplied security was withdrawn upon their move to Canada. Prince Harry’s legal challenge to independently fund police protection in the UK was unsuccessful earlier this year.
Most recently, Prince Harry and Meghan were seen returning from a three-day visit to Nigeria. The trip aimed to highlight charitable endeavors and included engagements with Nigeria’s military and youth initiatives. During the visit, Meghan referred to Nigeria as “her country,” following a DNA test suggesting partial Nigerian ancestry.
Their charitable foundation, Archewell, was involved in a minor controversy regarding its status in California due to a missed registration fee, which has since been resolved. Despite a drop in donations in 2022, Archewell remains operational and compliant with state regulations.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the Royal Family continues to be strained, further highlighted by the release of Harry’s memoir, Spare, in which he detailed personal grievances with his family members.
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