Recent developments in the British royal family have brought renewed public interest to the topic of royal titles and styles, particularly following changes to Prince Andrew’s titles and ongoing discussion about how titles are used by non-working royals such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Understanding how royal titles function, what has recently changed, and what is officially confirmed helps clarify much of the public conversation.
How Royal Titles Are Defined and Conferred
Titles such as Prince, Princess, Duke, Duchess, and the style His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) are conferred under the royal prerogative by the monarch through Letters Patent or other instruments of state. This power allows the sovereign — on ministerial advice — to grant, alter, or in some cases remove titles and styles without requiring primary legislation.
The British honours system distinguishes between titles created by the royal prerogative and honours that are statutory. Both can be affected by changes in royal status or decisions by the monarch and government.
Prince Andrew: Formal Removal of HRH and Princely Titles
In October 2025, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Andrew, Duke of York, had entered a formal process to relinquish certain titles and honours following prolonged controversy and public scrutiny. On 3 November 2025, Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm were published in The Gazette — the UK’s official public record — confirming that Andrew would no longer be entitled to the style of “Royal Highness” or to the titular dignity of “Prince.”
This formal act means that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is no longer styled as His Royal Highness or Prince. The Letters Patent cited by the Crown Office are a recognised form of royal authority under the royal prerogative, enabling the monarch to manage the distribution and use of such styles and titles.
Despite the removal of princely style and HRH, Andrew is technically still a prince by birth and remains legally part of the royal family ― but no longer uses those styles publicly. Some of his other titles, such as his dukedom, would require parliamentary action to be abolished entirely, which is a separate process.
Titles such as Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh that were held by Andrew have similarly been affected by the formal removal of his honours, although his birth right remains part of his legal identity.
What Happened to Titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain titled as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but their use of certain royal styles has changed based on official agreements from their departure as working royals. In January 2020, Buckingham Palace confirmed that, as part of arrangements agreed with Queen Elizabeth II, the couple would no longer use their HRH titles in an official capacity after stepping back from senior working royal duties.
It’s important to note that while the couple agreed not to use these styles publicly, their titles were not legally removed. They technically retain the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the associated honorifics by birth and by royal grant; the agreement affects only how they are used in practice.
This distinction has come up in reporting when Meghan’s representatives addressed instances such as her using “HRH” in a personal context on a card accompanying a private gift; her office clarified that the couple does not use the title for commercial or public purposes.
Royal Titles: Rules Versus Practice
The agreement reached in 2020 with Queen Elizabeth II and Buckingham Palace for Harry and Meghan allowed them to step back from official duties and financial support from the Sovereign Grant while remaining members of the royal family in theory. That plan included:
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The suspension of the use of His/Her Royal Highness titles for official duties.
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The couple not representing The Crown in an official royal capacity.
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Harry relinquishing honorary military appointments tied to his former roles in the UK.
This arrangement created a situation in which Harry and Meghan can technically hold royal styles, even if they agreed to limit their use publicly. This is distinct from the formal stripping or removal of titles, which is a rare and legally significant action.
How Titles Can Be Removed
Royal styles such as HRH and the substantive title of Prince or Princess can be altered or removed by the monarch through Letters Patent, an instrument of the royal prerogative. This is what happened with Prince Andrew in late 2025.
However, the removal of peerages such as a dukedom or other hereditary titles would generally require an act of Parliament. The Titles Deprivation Act of 1917 is an example of legislation used historically to remove titles from individuals deemed traitors during the First World War; any future removal of hereditary peerages would follow statutory processes.
Comparisons with Past Royal Changes
The system of royal titles has evolved over centuries. For instance, letters patent issued in 1917 under King George V defined who could hold the styles of “Prince” or “Princess,” and subsequent changes during the reigns of later monarchs have refined those rules.
When royal family members choose to relinquish or not use certain titles, that decision may pertain more to public identity than legal forfeiture. This was seen in cases such as Diana, Princess of Wales, who lost the use of HRH titles upon her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996 through a specific Letters Patent.
Misconceptions About Title Removal
Naval and media commentary sometimes suggests that members of the royal family like Prince Harry or Meghan could be “next” to lose titles formally. While there has been discussion about potential future reforms, it’s worth distinguishing reported commentary from official legal actions.
As of early 2026:
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle retain their titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex by birth and creation, though they agreed not to use certain styles in an official working capacity.
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No official notice or Letters Patent has been issued removing their royal titles.
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Only Parliament has the statutory authority to abolish a ducal title entirely; the monarch alone can alter styles and certain dignities through royal prerogative instruments.
What This Means Going Forward
Understanding the distinction between holding a title and using it publicly is important. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle continue to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and can technically retain those designations unless formally changed by Letters Patent or legislation.
Their situation is different from Prince Andrew’s recent formal change, which was recorded as a legal act under the king’s authority and published in the Gazette, the official public record.
Public interest in royal titles, media coverage, and broader discussions about how modern monarchies evolve means that these issues are likely to remain part of public conversation. However, official changes to titles occur only through legal instruments and are documented in official records.
Summary
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Royal titles and styles are governed by the monarch’s prerogative and, where applicable, Parliament.
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Prince Andrew was formally stripped of the HRH style and princely title in 2025 through Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle retain their titles but agreed not to use certain styles after stepping back as working royals.
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Removing a peerage entirely would require parliamentary action, separate from the monarch’s prerogative.
This framework helps clarify how titles function within the British monarchy based on currently confirmed actions and legal processes, not rumor or speculation.