A fresh royal showdown may be looming as Prince William reportedly plans to permanently strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their “HRH” (His or Her Royal Highness) styles once he ascends to the throne, a move insiders say reflects his growing frustration with the Sussexes’ continued ties to royal status.
According to a Daily Beast report published Tuesday, William was incensed after Meghan used the “HRH” style in a personal note accompanying a gift basket, and after a Ukrainian official publicly addressed her as “Your Royal Highness” in a letter she later shared online. Though Meghan and Harry agreed not to use the style after stepping back from royal duties in 2020, they were never formally stripped of it, a distinction that now appears to be at the center of renewed controversy.
The terms of their 2020 exit, known as the Sandringham Agreement, said the couple would no longer use the “HRH” designation “as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.” But Meghan’s recent correspondence appears to have tested that boundary.
One former courtier told The Daily Beast the Sussexes’ interpretation of the agreement is “complete rubbish,” adding, “They had agreed not to use the HRH titles at all, ever, in any capacity.”
While King Charles has reportedly opted for a softer approach, sources say Prince William is less forgiving. “He loathes and despises Harry and Meghan with every bone in his body,” the source claimed. “There is no way King William will stand for this. The titles will simply be removed when he is king. A way will be found.”
The issue also reignites questions of royal precedent. In modern times, only three royals have lost their “HRH” styles: Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson after divorcing royal spouses, and Prince Andrew after his scandal involving Jeffrey Epstein.
Whether a future King William could legally strip Harry and Meghan of their HRH status remains uncertain. However, former UK minister Norman Baker told The Daily Beast that the HRH style is ultimately a gift of the monarch. “The law is not clear,” he said, “but I have little doubt that… the monarch could remove the HRH title. It would basically be the equivalent to an executive order in the US.”
So far, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, and reps for the Sussexes have not commented.
