The royal drama might be about to reach a breaking point. According to new reports, Prince William is allegedly preparing to strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, along with their children, Archie and Lilibet, of their royal titles once he takes the throne. Sources claim the move would mark one of William’s first major acts as King, effectively ending the Sussexes’ royal era for good.
While Prince Harry has reportedly expressed interest in returning to the U.K. someday, insiders warn that his window may be closing fast. Multiple sources, including royal biographer Andrew Lownie, told The Scoop that one of Prince William’s first royal duties as King will be to remove the “Duke” and “Duchess” titles from Harry and Meghan.
But that’s not all. The couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, may also lose their royal designations, titles Harry and Meghan made sure were officially recognized back in March 2023, despite stepping away from royal duties. “Getting rid of Andrew has been a very useful exercise in showing what’s possible regarding titles,” Lownie explained. “And it’s a warning shot across Harry’s bow.”
King Charles Set The Precedent With Prince Andrew
The potential decision wouldn’t come out of nowhere. King Charles III recently set a royal precedent by officially stripping his brother, Prince Andrew, of his titles over his alleged relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a notice published by the Crown Office in the Gazette, the U.K.’s official public record, it read, “The King has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 3 November 2025 to declare that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor shall no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of ‘Royal Highness’ and the titular dignity of ‘Prince.’” Lownie believes that same standard could soon apply to Harry and Meghan, particularly as the royal family works to slim down the monarchy and avoid future controversies.
Inside Harry And Meghan’s Ongoing Rift With The Royals
The alleged plan to strip the Sussexes of their titles comes after years of growing tension between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the royal family. What began as an optimistic new chapter when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex married in 2018 has since unraveled into one of the most public and painful family feuds in royal history.
In 2020, the couple stunned the world by announcing they would be stepping back from royal duties and moving to California to pursue financial independence and privacy. Their decision, dubbed “Megxit” by the press, marked a major rupture between the Sussexes and the monarchy.
The situation worsened following Harry and Meghan’s bombshell 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they spoke candidly about racism, mental health struggles, and their difficult experiences inside “The Firm.” Meghan revealed that she faced suicidal thoughts during her time as a working royal, while Harry criticized the lack of support from his family and detailed his strained relationship with his father and brother.
Since then, their public image within the U.K. has remained divisive. While the pair continue to focus on their philanthropic work and media projects under the Archewell Foundation, their ongoing comments about royal life, from Netflix documentaries to Harry’s memoir Spare, have only deepened the rift.
