LONDON — Calls are mounting across the U.K. for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to be stripped of their royal titles, amid fresh public frustration over the couple’s continued use of their status despite stepping back from official duties.
Public opinion has turned sharply against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with 97% of respondents in a recent Express poll saying King Charles should formally revoke Harry’s royal title.
The survey, which polled 4,500 people, reflects a broader sentiment captured in earlier findings by polling service Find Out Now, which showed dwindling support for the couple.
The backlash comes as Prince Harry, 40, spoke to the BBC about his strained relationship with the royal family — comments made just hours after he lost his appeal for UK taxpayer-funded security.
“Why on Earth do we, the British public, need to foot the bill for this?” one exasperated resident told The Post. “He chose to leave. Simple as. Want security? Should’ve stayed.”
The controversy surrounding the couple intensified recently when it was revealed that Meghan Markle had used her HRH title on a personal note included in a gift basket to a friend. The note, which read “With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex,” reignited debate over the couple’s continued connection to royal status, despite their 2020 agreement with the late Queen Elizabeth II to stop using the style “His/Her Royal Highness.”
Sources close to Markle said the note was intended for private use and did not breach the agreement with the monarchy. They insisted neither Harry nor Meghan would use their HRH titles in commercial or public settings.
However, the incident has reportedly sparked concern within the Palace. A royal insider told The Post the matter was discussed behind closed doors.
One former supporter of the couple, disillusioned by years of controversy, told The Post: “It’s despicable, to put it lightly. It’s constant attacks without any real consequences.” The source referenced several high-profile projects, including Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, the couple’s Netflix series, and their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Critics argue the Sussexes have sought to capitalise on their royal connections while publicly distancing themselves from the institution.
Following their departure from senior royal roles, Buckingham Palace announced that the couple would no longer use their HRH titles and removed their titles from the royal family’s official website.
“The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family,” the Palace said at the time. Queen Elizabeth II had firmly rejected the idea of a “half-in, half-out” approach to royal life, reportedly telling Prince Harry: “You work for the monarchy, the monarchy doesn’t work for you.”
Despite stepping back five years ago, public scrutiny of the couple remains high, with many Britons now calling for definitive action from King Charles.
