Just moments ago, Prince Harry had his "Counsellor of State" role stripped away due to his loss of UK domicile. In his place, Princess Eugenie has been appointed to take on the position.
This comes as another blow to Harry's royal duties, following his eviction from Frogmore Cottage, which had served as the official UK residence for him and his wife, Meghan Markle, since their marriage.
A senior Member of Parliament explained that Harry's lack of a home in the country prevents him from fulfilling the role of a Counsellor of State in the event that King Charles is unable to assume the role of monarch.
Yesterday, June 30th, marked the deadline for the Sussexes to vacate the Windsor property, with their remaining belongings being shipped to their home in Montecito, California. Without a UK residence, their visits to the UK may require reliance on hotels or the hospitality of friends.
However, the absence of a British residence has further consequences for Harry, as he will now miss out on a significant royal role. According to a royal expert, losing the UK home without a replacement is a major issue. One of the key aspects for Harry is that he can no longer serve as a Counsellor of State. Although he is no longer a working member of the royal family, he still held this right. Unfortunately, not having a UK residence means he has now forfeited this opportunity.
It appears that King Charles is keen on addressing this matter, as he seems disinterested in dealing with titles and styles, especially when it comes to finding a replacement for Harry.
The rules for Counsellors of State have already been amended, making Harry quite irrelevant. Councilors of State must meet certain criteria, such as being British subjects of full age (21 years or 18 years for the Heir Apparent or Presumptive) who are domiciled in the United Kingdom and not disqualified from becoming monarch if residing abroad.
Having a UK residence is a requirement to fulfill this role, and with Frogmore Cottage no longer in their possession, Harry is now officially a full-time resident of the United States.
The Councilors of State currently include Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of York, and Princess Beatrice. Last year, Charles proposed adding his other siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, to the list.
Furthermore, the King had the Sussexes ousted from Frogmore Cottage, which had undergone a £2.4 million renovation but was only used by the couple for six months. This move followed Harry's criticisms of his family in his book. Frogmore Cottage, as a Crown Estate property, was their last remaining foothold in the United Kingdom. The couple now resides in California.
Prince Harry has faced accusations of embellishing details in his bombshell book to spice up the narrative. In one section, he focused on Sir Edward Young, Sir Clive Alderton, and Simon Case, using fictional insect-themed nicknames to refer to them as B-fly and wasp. A correspondent for The Times noted that the descriptions of the three individuals were not flattering.
In an updated paperback version of his book, courtier Valentine Low stated that while it wasn't clear whom Harry was referring to, it wasn't difficult to discern their identities. The book contains references to an alleged "awful of government and media" and "wormian trails," which seem more characteristic of J.R.R. Tolkien's work than the prince himself.
