Harry and Meghan give up royal titles: 5 questions their decision poses
Epilogue of recent days which have shaken the United Kingdom, the now ex-Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced this Saturday to withdraw from the British monarchy. Explanations.
End of crisis and consummate rupture. After ten crazy days across the Channel, during which the British saw their royal family tear themselves apart with press releases and hushed statements, but tear themselves apart all the same, Harry and Meghan announced on Saturday that they were giving up their royal titles.
Predictable epilogue of this painful sequence for Queen Elizabeth II, who had already mentioned a year 2019 "strewn with pitfalls" in her Christmas address and no doubt expected a less eventful start to 2020.
The decision of the princely couple will be a milestone in the history of the British monarchy and raises several questions about the future more royal daily life, therefore, but probably not trivial for all that, of Harry and Meghan who have decided to go live in Canada.
Is this decision irreversible?
Yes. The statement released by Buckingham on Saturday evening leaves little room for doubt: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer use their title of royal highness as they are no longer active members of the royal family », Specifies the palace. "They will no longer fulfill royal obligations" and "can no longer formally represent the queen", adds the text.
"It is an abdication", did not hesitate to affirm the expert in protocol of the royal family Alastair Bruce, questioned by the Sun on Sunday, noting that Harry thus finds himself demoted to the same rank as thirty others British dukes.
What happens to their titles?
The question is unprecedented, because it is the first time in history that British royalty has found itself in such a situation: a member of the Windsor family by birth who is deprived of this status.
Before Harry, who was until then "only" sixth in the order of succession to the British throne, his mother Lady Diana had certainly also lost this status, after having divorced Prince Charles in 1996. Like Sarah Ferguson, when she separated from Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son. But these were "honorary titles" obtained through marriage.
During his abdication in 1936, King Edward VIII, who wanted to marry a divorced American, had renounced the throne but not his title, seeing himself simply demoted from "His Majesty the King" to "His Royal Majesty the Duke of Windsor" . Regarding Harry and Meghan, they are now "only" Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The loss of all other titles is thus recorded.
What status for their son Archie?
Only 8 months old, Archie Mountbatten-Sussex (ex-Windsor, therefore), has just seen his royal destiny change. His future within royalty was in any case dotted as he had little chance of reigning one day. His father, Harry, being so far sixth in the order of succession to the throne, Archie was therefore only seventh….
It remains to be seen what relationship the boy will be able to forge with the royal family who remained in England. If we believe the statement released by Buckingham, they will be benevolent. "Harry, Meghan and Archie will remain very dear members of my family," said Elizabeth II, welcoming that "a constructive solution for [his] grandson and his family". After all, Harry and Archie haven't lost their title as the Queen's grandson and great-grandson.
What economic consequences?
The price of freedom. By turning their backs on the royal family, Harry and Meghan, who will not be pitied financially, will have to put their hand in the wallet and probably also revise their lifestyle downwards.
They pledged to reimburse certain public expenses from which they benefited, in particular the sums used to renovate the Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, their place of residence in the United Kingdom, that is to say more than 2 million pounds (2.3 million euros ), which had earned them criticism in the media.
By renouncing their titles, the couple is also giving up on the pensions that go with it. In particular those allocated by Prince Charles, Harry's father, via the Duchy of Cornwall, which represent 95% of their income. According to the Times, this is about 5 million pounds (5.9 million euros) which is donated each year to the two sons of Charles, Harry and William. "We can assume that William has touched 4 million euros, and Harry 2 million euros of this sum," said the Parisian Stéphane Bern, specialist in crowned heads.
Will Canada pay for their security?
Meghan and Harry may have given up their royal titles, they remain famous ... and therefore subject to temptation for individuals with good or bad intentions. Security measures will therefore be essential to enable them to lead their new lives in complete safety.
According to the Guardian, British police were spending around 600,000 pounds per year (nearly 705,000 euros) to keep the couple safe. Who will pay this amount now? For now, this is the big unknown. The Canadian Prime Minister offered to take her in charge, but without confirming anything. And according to a poll released this week, 73% of Canadians believe the couple should pay "themselves" for their safety.
Meghan and Harry may not soon be the only members of the royal family no longer able to benefit from significant police protection funded by the British taxpayer. Scotland Yard has recommended lowering the protective device of Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son, according to the London daily Evening Standard. He retired from public life after accusations of sexual assault brought by a woman, who says she was a sex slave of American financier Jeffrey Epstein.
