Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent royal-style tour to Nigeria reportedly enraged King Charles and Prince William.
Now, royal author Tom Quinn claims the monarch and his eldest son have spoken about stripping the the California-based couple of their royal titles.
Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals back in 2020, but have still retained their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Critics claim the couple are leveraging their connection to the UK crown through the titles while forgoing any of the duties or work commitments that royal life requires.
A 2020 survey for Tatler magazine found that 68% of Britons believed Harry and Meghan should be stripped of their titles. Other surveys conducted in the years since have shown that number has grown.
“Charles and William have had lengthy discussions about stripping Meghan and Harry of their royal titles,” Quinn told The Mirror.
However, he doesn’t believe the king and his heir will make the move.
“They are terrified this would backfire and make the situation worse,” Quinn explained. “The last thing they want is to give the renegade royals something else to complain about.”
“William and his father know that even without their royal titles Meghan and Harry would carry on traveling the world as if they were royals and most people in the world will still welcome them,” the expert further asserted.
Harry and Meghan spent three days in Nigeria earlier this month on a tour which took place in a “private capacity.”
However, Quinn previously told The Mirror that the tour had all the trappings of a traditional tour.
“Everything you might expect from an official royal visit was there — the receptions, the visits to schools and charities, to wounded soldiers and the disabled,” he said. “Charles is said to be angrier than anyone has ever seen him.”
“Meghan and Harry’s speeches and their whole attitude has been designed to give the impression that they are still fully paid-up royals,” said Quinn, adding that William and King Charles “don’t like that one bit.”
“For Charles and William, it’s as if Meghan and Harry are saying, ‘We don’t need your permission to be working royals — we will do it on our own terms whenever and wherever we like,’” he went on. “William and Charles are scratching their heads and thinking, ‘How are we going to control this nightmare situation?’”
