Prince Harry gave a blunt answer when asked why he and Meghan Markle continued to use their royal titles after stepping down from public duties in 2020. Many experts and fans have questioned why the British Royal Family did not strip them of their titles “at the highest level”.
Since stepping back as senior members of the British royal family in 2020, Harry and Meghan Markle have continued to use the titles Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In an interview with Anderson Cooper, Harry was asked directly why he and Meghan did not give up their titles. He replied flatly: “What difference does it make?”
Cooper’s question was part of an interview to promote Harry’s explosive memoir “Spare” last year. Cooper continued: “One of the criticisms you get is, okay, you want to move to California, you want to step back from your role in the Royal Family. But why do it so publicly? Why reveal private conversations you had with your father or your brother? When you say you’ve tried to work things out privately.”
Harry responded firmly: “And every time I try to resolve things privately, information is leaked and stories are made up against me and my wife. Everyone knows, my family motto is ‘never complain, never explain’. But that’s just an empty motto. And it’s not really true in this case.”
Although Harry remains fifth in line to the throne, with his two children sixth and seventh respectively, he is no longer styled as “His/Her Royal Highness (HRH). Harry, who celebrates his 40th birthday next week, also gave up his military titles after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
Nearly two years after “Spare” was released, Harry still appears to be at war with the British royal family — most notably his father and brother. Paul Burrell, who worked for the British royal family, said it’s unlikely that Harry will attend the anniversary of the death of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, with his family.
Speaking about the discord in 2023, Mr Burrell said: “Why would they want to welcome him on a day that is so important to them? I don’t think he will be invited to private memorial services .” He added: “I think the royal family has ‘pulled up the drawbridge’ and they are coming together and uniting because they have been hurt by Harry’s comments in various media outlets . “