What does Meghan Markle & Prince Harry losing their titles mean for their unborn baby & Archie & are they still royalty?
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have officially been stripped of their honorary titles and patronages, as they confirmed they won’t be returning as senior royals.
Following their 12-month review of Megxit with the Queen, Buckingham Palace put out a statement saying the monarch was ‘saddened’ by the decision.
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It said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family.
"Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.
"The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family.
"While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family."
The titles Prince Harry, 36, is likely to be stripped of is Captain-General Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant, RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command.
As part of the couple's agreement with the Queen last year, Meghan and Harry retained their His/Her Highness titles but no longer use them, and they will still be officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Archie, currently seventh in line to the throne, remains a royal through his bloodline.
Meghan, 39, and Harry chose not to give him a royal title when he was born.
Archie could have been known as Archie, Earl of Dunbarton, using his father’s secondary title.
The Queen conferred the title to Prince Harry on his wedding day to Meghan Markle, along with Baron Kilkeel, which he is referred to when in Northern Ireland, and the former when in Scotland.
"It might be anticipated that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son, should he marry, will have to seek the sovereign’s permission unless one of his three cousins marry and have children first, as he will be sixth in line when his grandfather is king."
Responding to the decision today to strip the Sussexes of their titles and patronages, the parents-to-be issued their own statement, saying they remained ‘committed’ to the UK.
It said: "As evidenced by their work over the past year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have offered their continued support to the organisations they have represented regardless of official role.
"We can all live a life of service. Service is universal."
And Meghan Markle and Prince Harry become second couple to have royal baby abroad.
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