Although plans to strip the Sussexes of their royal title had been announced as far back as 2020, it wasn't until 2023, during King Charles' official reign, that he exercised his authority to address the ongoing criticisms aimed at the Sussexes.
This strategic decision marked a departure from the practices of Queen Elizabeth's era, highlighting King Charles' differing approach, possibly influenced by a less familial sentiment. Recently, King Charles formally eliminated the HRH title from the Sussexes and repositioned their family name towards the bottom of the royal hierarchy.
This move, made in response to the ongoing controversies and actions of certain family members, symbolized King Charles' intention to disassociate the Sussexes from the core of the royal family, potentially disrupting their ability to capitalize on their brand.
One notable alteration was observed on Prince Harry's profile page on the official royal family website. His HRH title was conspicuously absent, reflecting the changes that had been agreed upon as part of the well-known 2020 exit agreement. The Palace had announced that neither Harry nor Meghan Markle would retain their HRH titles after stepping down as senior royals. The official statement released on January 18, 2020, stated that the Sussexes would no longer utilize their HRH titles since they were no longer active working members of the royal family.
Curiously, despite this declaration, the website continued to refer to Prince Harry as "His Royal Highness" for over three years, an oversight that was highlighted by the press. The Palace swiftly rectified this error after its exposure, and Prince Harry's profile page no longer bore the HRH title. The positioning of Prince Harry's profile on the royal family landing page was also noticeably altered, now relegated to a lower position below the profiles of working members of the royal family.
Notably, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's pages were positioned alongside those of other royal family members, falling below the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra but still above Prince Andrew's page. Other discrepancies on the website, as pointed out by the press, have also been addressed. Prince Harry is no longer inaccurately referred to as the youngest son of the Prince of Wales, a title that incorrectly implied he was as young as Prince Louis.
The changes extended beyond Prince Harry's page, encompassing updates to Clarence House and Kensington Palace content. The titles of the King and Queen, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, were appropriately modified to reflect the new monarch's status and to acknowledge the passing of Queen Elizabeth. Prior to this revision, the titles "Prince of Wales" and "Duchess of Cornwall" were still being used, titles which had ceased to be used after the passing of Queen Elizabeth in September of the preceding year.
Furthermore, pages related to the Royal Collection Trust, warrants, and royal finances underwent updates to accurately present King Charles as the current monarch rather than his late mother. Even the search bar results were modified, preventing the previously lengthy list of Commonwealth Nations from appearing with Queen Elizabeth as the monarch. It's worth noting that the Canadian page continues to prominently display incorrect information, still asserting that the late Queen holds the throne.
Responding to queries about these changes, Buckingham Palace emphasized that the royal family website contains an extensive array of content, spanning over 5,000 pages, detailing various aspects of the royal family's life and work. Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth, ongoing efforts have been made to revisit and update content, acknowledging that certain information may currently be outdated due to the ongoing revision process.
