Queen’s turmoil: Can Prince Harry keep his military titles?

Royal insiders have reportedly been briefed that Prince Harry will be stripped of his military titles in due course, following his decision to step down as a senior royal last year.

• Speaking on True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat, Roya Nikkhah said Prince Harry keeping his military titles is "clearly not going to happen"
• Royal Editor, Russell Myers, says the Duke ‘can’t be “one foot in and one foot out”’ after his departure from the royal family
• It follows royal news that Kate Middleton 'saved' Prince William 

Her Majesty the Queen has got a tough decision to make with regards to Prince Harry’s military titles.

When he and Meghan Markle chose to step down as senior royals last year, they relinquished their royal patronages and all duties taken on behalf of the Queen.

It has been rumoured that the couple - who recently settled into their new Santa Barbara family home - will “likely” lose their HRH titles. But Prince Harry’s military titles have become more of a deeper issue.

Two royal experts this week have claimed there is no way The Duke of Sussex can retain his military titles and not be an official working member of the royal family.

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Speaking on The Royal Beat - True Royalty TV’s podcast - royal correspondent Roya Nikkah said, “Those of us that speak to Buckingham Palace regularly have been briefed very clearly that is not going to happen.”

Fellow royal editor, Russell Myers, said it’s a case of setting precedent for other members of The Firm - that Harry cannot pick and choose what he is part of.

“I can’t see that he can [keep his military titles]. He can’t be ‘one foot in and one foot out’. They are honorary titles and you need to be a member of the working Royal Family and they [Harry and Meghan] have chosen their path.”

But, Woman’s royal columnist, Duncan Larcombe recently warned that there is a “real danger” if the Queen strips ex-soldier Harry of his titles when the ‘Megxit’ deal is up for review in February, and forces him out of the huge role he currently plays within the Armed Forces.

He said, “There is a real danger at play here. By insisting Harry severs official links with the military, the royals will simply throw the baby out with the bathwater.

“Harry understands the military. The military adores Harry. He has earned the right to consider himself one of their own. Yes, fears of ‘cherry-picking’ are real, but so is Harry’s deep connection with, and adoration for, the Armed Forces. By blocking him from a royal/military function, the Queen will lose an enormous asset – a royal who can look servicemen in the eye.

“Harry should be allowed to wear his poppy. That’s what the forces want, it’s what Harry wants and, ultimately, it is what is best for the Royal Family.”