Meghan Markle, 39, and Prince Harry, 36, have stepped away from royal duty and are carving out a new life for themselves in the USA. Since settling in Montecito, California in July, the couple have openly encouraged Americans to vote in the upcoming US election. Critics feel the move contradicts the royal rule of remaining politically neutral, and Meghan and Harry have faced increasing calls to lose their royal titles.
The couple held onto their HRH styles and Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles despite their royal exit.
They agreed with the Queen that they would not use them in conjunction with their work going forward but nearly half of Britons surveyed in a new poll still feel they should be stripped of the honours entirely.
A snap poll by YouGov on September 29 asked 3,250 UK adults if ‘Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan should or should not be stripped of their royal titles?’
The results show 48 percent of those asked thought they should be.
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The website continues: “As agreed and set out in January, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will retain their ‘HRH’ prefix, thereby formally remaining known as His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer actively use their HRH titles as they will no longer be working members of the family as of Spring 2020.”
Last week Meghan and Harry encouraged Americans to vote in a clip they filmed to mark TIME100 list of the world’s 100 most influential people.
Reacting to the clip at the time, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: “As the American election gets nearer, Harry and Meghan are increasingly advertising that in the future they are highly unlikely to observe the royal rule of avoiding involvement in political matters and also ensuring they are not identified with party politics.”
The expert added: “Harry and Meghan will face a review of their activities by the end of next March after the agreement which the Queen brokered at Sandringham.”
“In the long term, a future in politics may well beckon for Meghan, who has been an activist since she successfully objected to a sexist commercial at the age of 11.
“She is also articulate and has many important contacts.
“In future years, as she is an American citizen, she has many options including a political career which could lead anywhere.”
Meghan is due to speak at another high profile event on Tuesday.
The Duchess of Sussex will talk at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit Virtual where she is expected to address how experiences online shape communities offline.
She will join the summit for a virtual one-one-one on rebuilding the digital world and creating humane tech which is meant to be a big part of her and Harry’s new non-profit venture Archewell.
