Rumors are swirling that King Charles plans to strip Meghan Markle of her last remaining royal title before the upcoming Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Although the Monarch has not publicly commented, sources close to Buckingham Palace suggest that Charles finds Meghan's ongoing criticisms of the institution intolerable and deeply disrespectful.
To recap the situation, Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in early 2020. They relocated to California, where they have since launched numerous commercial ventures and made several critical statements about the royal family in interviews.
While Meghan no longer performs official duties, she has retained her title of Duchess of Sussex since marrying Harry in 2018. However, King Charles appears determined to remove even this vestige of royal recognition following her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, during which she made accusations of racism against an unnamed royal.
Sources indicate that Charles firmly believes Meghan has crossed a line, using her title for commercial gain through lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify while disrespecting the institution. Word from the palace suggests that Charles is ready to act ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony, which will mark his first official birthday parade as Sovereign on June 2nd. This traditional showcase of the working royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace reportedly will not include Meghan if she retains her title.
Stripping her of the Duchess title is seen as a clear message that attacking the monarchy will not be tolerated. It would also sever her last symbolic tie to the institution. To avoid a constitutional crisis, Charles is said to be considering using ancient royal letters patent powers to remove the title without involving Parliament. Some argue that such a move could further exacerbate tensions with Harry and Meghan, but sources indicate that the King has run out of patience with what he views as constant criticism and commercial exploitation from his son and daughter-in-law across the Atlantic. He believes decisive action is needed to establish his authority as the new Sovereign and draw a line in the sand.
Reactions from California have been dramatic. Meghan reportedly was brought to tears upon learning of the King’s rumored intentions. Sources say she screamed at Harry, insisting this was further proof that the monarchy would never accept her. An insider adds that she cried for over an hour about how unwelcome and disrespected she feels by the royal family. Understandably, Harry is said to be furious with his father over the potential removal of Meghan's title. He believes Charles is punishing her simply for speaking her truth about her experience of racism within the royal household. Tensions between father and son are reported to be at an all-time low.
Others close to the couple say this latest move has shattered what little trust remained between them and the British royals. They fully expect Harry and Meghan to respond with more bombshell interviews and tell-all books elaborating on their mistreatment by "The Firm." The concern is that this could launch an all-out war of words between the two sides of the Atlantic, severely damaging the monarchy.
In the UK, reactions have been mixed. Supporters of the King argue that he is right to remove any association between the royal family and Meghan given her critical comments from abroad. However, others view this as a spiteful act that will only encourage further attacks against the royals by an already resentful couple. Complicating matters is the ongoing controversy over the King’s other son, Prince Andrew, and his ties to the deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Still, the prevailing belief among palace aides is that they have no alternative but to take a strong stance against further disloyal interviews and ongoing barbs against the institution. They argue that turning a blind eye has only emboldened Harry and Meghan to leverage the royal connection without obligation. Removing the last vestige of status, they feel, may finally eliminate that commercial incentive to disparage members of the monarchy.
At the same time, some point out that stripping Meghan’s title could disrupt King Charles's stated goal of a slimmed-down monarchy focused on core members carrying out duties. Further alienating Harry and Meghan ensures they will remain highly critical, albeit vocal, royals from the sidelines even if no longer formally tied to the institution. In this sense, it may backfire, further tarnishing the royal image on the global stage.
Ultimately, this situation comes down to a game of brinksmanship between two stubborn sides. Charles seems poised to call Meghan's bluff and remove her title to establish his authority.
