When Prince Andrew lost his titles last fall, a seismic shift rippled through the monarchy. For decades, stripping royal titles seemed constitutionally impossible, yet the king found a way. Now, speculation swirls about who is next. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have long irritated William with their commercial use of the Sussex brand. But the deeper story starts with how quietly that brand is already slipping.
When Royalty Met Reality At Aspen
Last month, Prince Harry traveled to Colorado to compete in the St. Regis Snow Polo Championship without fanfare. Eyewitnesses said announcers deliberately introduced him as “Harry Wales,” dropping the royal reference entirely. A source told Page Six, “He was there to play polo with his best friend Nacho. No titles, just fun.” The moment raised a sharper question.
The Precedent That Changed Everything
On October 30, 2025, Buckingham Palace made history. King Charles III officially stripped Prince Andrew of his royal titles and evicted him from Royal Lodge, his Windsor home. Andrew became simply Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a symbolic demotion that shocked the family. The move was unprecedented in modern royal history. The fallout quietly reset expectations.
Understanding The Legal Framework
The mechanism used to strip Andrew’s titles was unconventional and powerful. Rather than requiring an Act of Parliament, King Charles issued a Royal Warrant and Letters Patent. These removed Andrew from the Roll of the Peerage, stripped “Prince” and “HRH” styling, and erased official recognition. Experts note that peerage titles differ from “Prince” rules under the 1917 Letters Patent. That split changes everything.
What William Could Actually Do
Royal experts say Prince William will hold significant authority over titles once he becomes king. He could issue Letters Patent stripping “Prince” and “Princess” from Archie and Lilibet, and remove HRH styling unilaterally. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s titles are peerage honors granted in 2018, which traditionally require Parliament to remove. Scholars debate creative workarounds, but the optics matter.
Meghan’s Defiant Use Of Her Title
Throughout late 2025, Meghan demonstrated that she would not relinquish the Sussex designation. In April last year, she signed a gift basket “HRH Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.” In interviews, she corrected guests who called her “Meghan Markle,” insisting, “You know I’m Sussex now.” Her Netflix show “With Love, Meghan” highlighted her title, and As Ever leaned on it heavily.
The Legal Weapon Meghan May Lack
Reports said Meghan consulted legal experts about defending her title, but royal law specialists say her position is weak. Former minister Norman Baker argued that titles granted at the sovereign’s pleasure are not property that courts protect. Professor Graham Zellick said the king could remove HRH “without needing Parliament’s approval, and the decision wouldn’t be open to legal challenge.” So what stops William?
William’s Reported Change Of Heart
By December 2025, insiders said William’s thinking had shifted. Rob Shuter reported that William no longer intended to strip titles, not out of mercy, but because he believed their brand was “worthless” and that taking action would make him “look petty.” A palace source said, “Why take away something that’s already worthless?” Ignoring them, William reportedly decided, could sting more.
The Strategic Downside Of Title Removal
Experts warned stripping titles could backfire. Acheampong-Hagan told The Mirror, “If he strips them, he’ll just look like a petty brother.” It could dominate William’s early reign and distract from modernization. Ingrid Seward said removing titles would “confuse the Americans” and seem “unkind and unnecessary.” William’s priority is legacy, not revenge, and that choice carries consequences.
The Sussex Brand’s Spectacular Collapse
Evidence through 2025 suggested the Sussex business model was wobbling. Their $100 million Netflix deal reportedly shifted to a non-exclusive “first look” arrangement in mid-2025. Spotify ended its podcast partnership in 2023 due to limited output. Meghan’s As Ever launched in spring 2025 to skepticism. One observer described later deals as “far less lucrative, far more cautious.” Is collapse the real punishment?
Archie And Lilibet In The Crossfire
Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, became central to the debate. When Charles became king in 2022, the 1917 George V Letters Patent automatically made them a prince and a princess. Yet William could theoretically redefine eligibility through new Letters Patent, even if Archie’s status feels like a birthright. Legal experts say children’s titles can be restructured by monarchs. That reality leaves a lingering tension.
Andrew’s Warning Shot For Harry
Historian Andrew Lownie, author of “Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,” said Andrew’s removal was a “warning shot across Harry’s bow.” The message was that the monarchy can act against royals who bring disrepute to the institution. But Lownie also noted Andrew faced allegations tied to Jeffrey Epstein, which Harry and Meghan have not. The parallels are incomplete, and that nuance matters.
Tom Bower’s Explosive Assessment
Biographer Tom Bower predicted Harry and Meghan were “on borrowed time.” He told The Mirror that Meghan’s identity and commercial strategy depend on her royal status. “Without the titles, who is she?” Bower asked. He also warned their finances were precarious, with Meghan’s income “dried up,” which could incentivize more disclosures to survive. Still, Bower added a firm limit.
A 1917 Rule Facing 2026 Reality
The 1917 George V Convention set out who qualifies as a prince or princess: children of the sovereign, children of the sovereign’s sons, and the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. Under that framework, Archie and Lilibet only gained eligibility when Charles became king. William could modernize by rewriting Letters Patent to exclude non-working royals, but changing a century-old rule invites political scrutiny.
Experts Split On William’s Intent
Commentator Richard Fitzwilliams argued that removing the Sussex peerage titles would require an Act of Parliament and is “highly improbable.” Others say Andrew’s precedent shows creative tools can bypass tradition. Page Six sources said they “would not be surprised” if Harry became “the next one to go,” though William is “not a vindictive person.” The real divide is not one of capability, but rather motivation.
Meghan’s Business Empire At Stake
Meghan’s As Ever, launched in February 2025, sells home goods, jams, honey, and luxury items aimed at affluent American consumers. Analysts say without “Duchess of Sussex,” the brand’s appeal could fade fast. One expert noted, “The title remains useful for Meghan’s business activities… It gets people talking and keeps her in the limelight.” If removed, the annual loss could reach millions.
Denmark’s Costly Example
In September 2022, Danish Queen Margrethe II stripped 4 grandchildren of royal titles, including Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Prince Henrik, and Princess Athena. The move was legal but sparked backlash and family strain. Observers noted the emotional toll on those children and reputational damage to the queen. William is aware that even justified title changes can look harsh, and public sympathy can flip quickly.
William’s Modernization Clues
In October 2025, William spoke on Apple TV+’s “The Reluctant Traveler.” He told Eugene Levy, “Change is on my agenda. Change for good… Not overly radical change, but changes that I think need to happen.” Biographer Robert Jobson said William wants “a smaller monarchy, but greater in purpose. Less distant, more human.” That framing points to reform, rather than punishment.
King Charles’s Health And The Clock
By December 2025, King Charles said his cancer treatment would be “reduced in the New Year,” entering a “precautionary phase.” Palace reporting suggested his condition remained actively managed, though the trajectory is uncertain. Some analysts think William could inherit sooner than expected, compressing timelines and increasing pressure to prioritize a clean modernization agenda. However, moving too quickly on family issues could destabilize the early momentum.
The Paradox Of Power And Silence
William has the power to reshape his brother’s family status, and Andrew’s downfall proved that mechanisms exist. Meghan’s commercial use of her designation gives a clear rationale, and the children’s styling is technically vulnerable. Still, insiders increasingly believe that William will refrain, not out of mercy, but as a strategic move. Allowing the Sussex brand to fade may align with his agenda and avoid appearing petty. But does restraint always win?
Sources:
Prince Andrew stripped of titles and evicted from Royal Lodge. Buckingham Palace, October 30, 2025
“Change is on my agenda. Change for good… Not overly radical change, but changes that I think need to happen.” Apple TV+, October 2025
Stand Up To Cancer Appeal. Channel 4, December 12, 2025
UK Constitutional Law Blog analysis on reforming prince and princess titles. UK Constitutional Law Blog, 2025
Danish Queen Margrethe II removes titles from 4 grandchildren. Danish Royal House, September 2022