King Charles’s Verbal Missteps and the Unforeseen Consequences of Stripping Harry and Meghan of Their Royal Titles
King Charles is a man whose eloquence has often landed him in hot water throughout the years. In 1981, shortly after his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer, he stumbled upon his own words while attempting to appear profound, uttering the now-infamous phrase, “whatever ‘in love’ means.”
His verbal missteps continued when he was caught on tape in 1993 making an inappropriate joke about tampons, and a year later, he openly admitted to having extramarital affairs. In 2005, Charles was recorded venting his frustration about the press, referring to them as “bloody people” and “awful.” Just last year, shortly after his ascension to the throne, he had two outbursts involving pens.
Throughout his life, words have often caused trouble for His Majesty, and now, a few specific words are making his life even more challenging. The words in question? “His/Her Royal Highness.”
These words were among the many privileges that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were compelled to relinquish in 2020. At the time, Queen Elizabeth and Charles believed it was a smart move to strip them of the designation. However, the consequences of that decision are now being felt by Charles.
Looking back to January 2020 when the infamous Megxit announcement was made via Instagram, the Queen insisted that Harry and Meghan make a choice regarding their royal roles. Opting for a more independent life, they were required to mothball their HRH titles. The Palace’s reasoning was to create a separation between their financial pursuits and the monarchy.
Although this move may have diminished the marketability of the Sussexes, it also liberated Harry from the constraints of royal life. In recent months, he has become increasingly vocal, publicly criticizing the government and the British press. His comments have drawn mixed reactions, with some finding them ill-judged and others questioning their constitutionality.
However, it seems unlikely that Harry loses any sleep over the clucking tongues of Westminster and Fleet Street. If anything, the criticism only strengthens his resolve and propels him further down the unorthodox path he has chosen.
Ironically, the decision to strip Harry and Meghan of their HRH titles, initially meant to protect the monarchy, has unintentionally empowered them to engage in battles they were previously restrained from. Over the past three years, the couple has fearlessly taken on various challenges and legal battles, including lawsuits against UK publishers.
As Harry continues his fight against media scrutiny and seeks justice, it remains uncertain what other bombshells he may drop. The implications of his upcoming book and his ongoing battles with the press, government, and royal family are yet to fully unfold.
In the midst of it all, Charles finds himself in a precarious position, lacking leverage over Harry and Meghan. The absence of those three words, “His/Her Royal Highness,” has not only affected the marketability of the Sussexes but has also rendered Charles powerless in reining them in.
Having distanced the Palace from Harry and Meghan, Charles and his advisors inadvertently relinquished any means of exerting influence over them. The couple is now free to challenge and provoke Charles as they please, until their next encounter with Oprah or some other high-profile event diverts their attention.
While the consequences for the Sussexes’ words or actions may be relatively mild, such as minor adjustments to seating arrangements, Harry has taken a defiant stance unprecedented among senior members of the royal family. It appears that threats of relegation to the third row during future church services will hardly have any impact on him.
