Harry and Meghan’s Royal Titles Hold Firm as They Steer Through Life Beyond the Palace

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from their roles as senior members of the Royal Family in January 2020, it marked a significant shift in their lives. Yet, despite leaving the working Royal Family, the couple has maintained certain royal connections that continue to shape their identities and public roles.

Even after their departure, Harry and Meghan have retained their royal titles, allowing their children to use the titles of Prince and Princess. This decision underscores their ongoing, albeit limited, connection to the Royal Family. In addition to keeping their titles, the couple has also engaged in ‘semi-royal’ tours, reflecting Harry’s commitment to service—a core value instilled in him during his years as a working royal, according to the Daily Record.

However, since Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, Meghan has notably not accompanied Harry on any of his visits to the UK. Despite this physical distance, a leading Royal expert suggests that Meghan’s ties to the Royal Family are far from severed.

“If Meghan is encouraging Harry to leave the past behind and move on, then I think it is a healthy move,” former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK!. “They have made their decision, left the working Royal Family and left the UK. Brooding on the perceived injustices of the past and reliving old quarrels is a waste of a life, and I think Meghan sees that.”

Jennie further explains that while Meghan may support Harry’s continued connection to the UK, it’s easier for her to move forward, given her relatively short time as a working royal. “On the other hand, she doesn’t have an entire and complex history of life in the confines of the royal family to worry about,” Jennie adds. “It’s easy for her to look forward, ensconced as she is in a country and lifestyle she is so used to and clearly loves.”

As Harry approaches his 40th birthday on September 15, he recently completed a ‘semi-royal’ tour in Colombia, a move that experts see as a way for him to stay connected to his royal roots while navigating his new life in California. Jennie Bond reflects on how this balancing act plays out between the couple.

“I don’t think Harry spends all his time looking back,” Jennie notes, “but the Harry I knew as a young boy was someone who enjoyed fooling around with his family and having fun with them. In his book Spare, he writes about his fond memories of some of those family gatherings, and it’s only natural that he now misses that connection and perhaps is still considering ways of repairing the damage done in recent years.”

For Meghan, however, the past seems more firmly in the rearview. “Meghan, however, has I think consigned her brief dalliance at being royal very firmly to the past… except for the title and the kudos it brings,” Jennie concludes.

As Harry and Meghan continue to navigate their lives post-royalty, their complex relationship with the Royal Family remains a delicate dance between past loyalties and present realities.