Prince Harry and Meghan Markle once hoped to balance royal duty and private life through a “half-in, half-out” arrangement — but their request was denied by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The rejection left the couple disappointed, marking a key turning point in their relationship with the monarchy.
The discussion around Harry and Meghan’s royal roles has resurfaced after King Charles removed Prince Andrew’s titles. Critics have accused the Sussexes of continuing to trade on their royal ties despite stepping away from official duties more than five years ago.
Meghan Accused of Using Royal Symbols
Recently, Meghan faced criticism for allegedly profiting from royal connections through her lifestyle brand. In a promotional video for her Christmas collection, she was seen using a blue notebook embossed with her royal cypher — the letter “M” topped by a crown — originally introduced before her 2018 wedding to Harry.
Adding to the controversy, her brand also released a candle called “No 519,” a nod to their wedding date. “This signature candle is inspired by the ease and joy of a day that holds Meghan’s most cherished memories — her wedding day, May 19th,” read the product description.
Royal commentators questioned why the couple continue referencing their royal past while publicly criticizing “The Firm.”
Plans to “Monetise the Monarchy”
Royal biographer Tom Bower has long claimed that Buckingham Palace suspected the couple intended to “monetise the monarchy.” He noted that tensions escalated when the Sussexes were told they could not use the brand name “SussexRoyal.”
The couple officially stepped back as working royals on March 31, 2020, becoming financially independent. But a statement released a month earlier revealed their frustration with how the decision was handled — and how they were treated compared to other royals.
A Defiant Statement
In the 1,114-word post on their website, Harry and Meghan insisted the monarch had “no jurisdiction” over their use of the term “royal” overseas. “While there is not any jurisdiction by the monarchy or cabinet office over the use of the word ‘royal’ overseas, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not intend to use ‘Sussex Royal’ or any iteration of the word ‘royal’ in any territory,” they wrote.
Bower described the statement as “spiteful fury,” calling it “rude to the Queen.” He added that it barely hid the couple’s resentment toward other family members and included a veiled reference to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Losing Royal Privileges
Under the new arrangement, a 12-month review period was introduced, during which Harry and Meghan ceased being working royals and were no longer allowed to use their HRH titles.
According to Bower, “Harry assured his family” they would “never” use their titles to earn money. However, less than a month after the Sandringham Summit in January 2020, Harry traveled to Miami to speak at a JP Morgan event.
“Hosted by Gayle King, he flew to Florida on a private jet from Vancouver to earn an estimated $1 million for exposing his wounds,” Bower said, recalling how Harry revealed during his keynote speech that he had been in therapy for seven years to cope with the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
