PRINCE Harry may have left the royal family to live in Hollywood but he still “wants the best of both worlds”, according to a royal expert.
Ex-home office minister Norman Baker claimed on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show that the Duke of Sussex still wants benefits from his HRH title, despite stepping back from royal duties.
Royal author Norman claimed on the show: “Harry wants the best of both worlds.
“He wants to be a celebrity or independent of the royal family, ‘I’m no longer part of this family.’
“But he also wants to be called HRH, and all the benefits that flow from that.”
The former MP added: “I think he’s entitled to leave the royal family if he wants to.
“Nobody should be imprisoned by that if they don’t want to be there.
“But he can’t then hang on to the bits he wants and abandon the bits he doesn’t want, it doesn’t work that way.
“He’s just got to accept that, leaving the royal family, you should abandon HRH.”
This follows The Sun conducting a poll asking readers if they considered Harry and Meghan to be “royal” or “celebrities”.
This follows them stepping back from duties in 2020 and now living in California with Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
The results showed 41 per cent see them as “celebrities”, 19 per cent see them as “royals” and 40 per cent see them as “commoners or non-Royals.”
Following the Sussexes stepping back, an official statement from Buckingham Palace confirmed: “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.”
The Duke of Sussex was said to be “upset” at the prospect of losing his titles and patronages – with the palace confirming he would no longer hold the honorary positions.
The couple had around 18 royal and private patronages until the Palace’s announcement.
By August 2023, Prince Harry’s HRH title was quietly removed from the royal family website, although they kept their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.
HRH change
After Harry and Meghan’s “stepping back” from royal duties, they no longer receive financial support from the Sovereign Grant and are considered financially independent.
Prince Harry is to appear in court to appeal a High Court judgement that upholds a Home Office decision to downgrade his security, following him no longer being a senior working royal.
Despite not being able to use their HRH titles, they have used their Sussex titles for a number of their post-royal ventures.
This includes the upcoming lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard which is “by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex.”
Why did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step back as senior working royals?
PRINCE Harry has always wanted out of the Royal Family and the repercussions will be felt for years, an expert has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex has lived in California with his wife Meghan Markle since 2020 after they dramatically quit their jobs as working royals and moved across the pond.
Katie Nicholl, who is Vanity Fair’s royal correspondent, told The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show that Megxit did not come as a surprise to her.
Speaking to The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, the commentator explained: “Anyone who knows Harry is aware he’s always wanted a way out of the Royal Family.
“He’s said multiple times on the record that he wished he’d never been born a prince.
“I think he really is living the life he wants to now. It’s very, very sad that it’s played out the way it has.”
In a statement made on the Sussexes’ Instagram account as they stepped back in 2020, the pair wrote: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
“It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.
“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.
“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
Meanwhile, their recent Polo series on Netflix was credited as being “executive produced by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
And the upcoming With Love, Meghan Netflix show is described as “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex invites friends and famous guests to a beautiful California estate, where she shares cooking, gardening and hosting tips.”
Prince Harry has also done a tell-all memoir called Spare giving details about the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex claimed he was knocked to the ground in a row with brother William who, he says, had called Meghan “rude” and “difficult”.
Last year, the couple jetted to Colombia in a visit that was branded a “faux-royal” tour after an invite from the country’s Vice President Francia Márquez.
The Colombia visit did give the couple a chance to champion some topics that are key in their charitable foundation Archewell.
