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Welcome back to another episode of royal news and analysis. It seems there is growing controversy surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s continued use of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, with a British MP now looking to introduce legislation to remove them.
As regular viewers will know, when Harry and Meghan stepped back from their working royal roles three years ago, they retained their titles despite no longer officially representing the Queen or performing royal duties on her behalf. However, this decision has become an increasing point of criticism for some in the UK. Conservative MP Bob Seely for the Isle of Wight has now revealed plans to bring forward a private member’s bill aiming to strip the Sussexes of their dukedom.
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Mr. Seely has been a vocal critic of Harry and Meghan in the past. On Twitter back in December, he accused Harry of “attacking important British institutions” as well as “trashing his family and monetizing his misery for public consumption.” He stated that if Harry “doesn't like the monarchy, don't be part of it but don't use your titles and trash the institution.” These strong comments indicate the level of irritation some feel regarding Harry and Meghan’s actions since stepping back, while still utilizing their royal branding and titles for commercial gain.
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According to royal commentator Jonathan Sacerdoti, Mr. Seely informed him that the bill needs to be drafted and is expected to be introduced in mid-February. The proposed legislation would allow a vote to amend the 1917 Titles Deprivation Act, which was used to strip the German royal family of their UK titles during World War 1. As Sacerdoti notes, “that level of treachery was seen as cause to remove Royal titles back then, so it’s striking that a serving MP now feels so strongly about the actions of Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle that he wants to use the same law to strip them of their titles.”
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This move has certainly divided royal observers. On the one hand, some argue Harry and Meghan forfeited their right to titles when they turned their backs on the royal family to pursue private financial gain in the USA. By criticizing the institution of the monarchy publicly, this complicates their position. However, others believe the Queen’s gift of a dukedom should not be revoked, and threats to do so feed into the ongoing transatlantic “media circus” the couple have faced. There are also concerns about precedence - if Harry loses his title, where might efforts to remove titles end?
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It will be fascinating to see if Mr. Seely’s bill gains any traction. As a private member’s bill, it would need government support to pass into law. But its introduction indicates the level of annoyance some feel regarding the Sussexes’ actions and activities since their move to California. Clearly this saga is far from over. I’d love to get your perspectives on this in the comments below - do you support or oppose efforts to strip Harry and Meghan of their royal titles? Is their behavior seen to merit such a extreme step? Or should the Queen’s gift stand? Please share your thoughts and we can discuss further.
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In other royal news, preparations are continuing for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place in June to mark her 70 years on the throne. A service of thanksgiving will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral, while a concert featuring Queen and Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys and Duran Duran will take place at Buckingham Palace. The long bank holiday weekend will also see the Queen travelling to Cardiff and Manchester. It should be an immensely popular national event celebrating Britain’s longest reigning monarch.
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That’s all for now - thank you as always for tuning into the latest on the royal family. Please be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes. Hoping to hear your views on the potential stripping of Harry and Meghan’s titles. Until then, thanks for watching!
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