Calls grow to strip royals of titles after county snub

It is not often that royal titles dominate headlines for controversial reasons.

Yet recently, two well-known members of the royal family have attracted attention for their silence.

For many, this latest development speaks to broader questions about duty, identity and tradition.

A missed opportunity—or a pattern?

While Sussex locals marked their annual day with pride, there was no message, note or mention from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Instead, Meghan was launching her new ‘As Ever’ product line, and Harry was featured in a video for Germany’s first Veterans Day.

The silence did not go unnoticed. Former Sussex MP Tim Loughton criticised the couple’s continued indifference to Sussex, calling it ‘underwhelming to say the least’.

He even suggested the region deserves a Duke and Duchess who actually care about the county.

‘It’s hardly a tall order to wish Sussex residents a happy Sussex Day,’ Loughton said, pointing out that the couple rarely visited the county even before relocating abroad.

In fact, their only official joint visit was in 2018, when they were cheered through Chichester, Bognor Regis, Brighton and Peacehaven.

Meghan’s total time spent in Sussex as a royal? Approximately six hours.

What’s in a name? More than you’d think

The debate over the Sussex title is not just about geography—it is about identity.

In a recent episode of her podcast, Meghan corrected her friend Mindy Kaling, who kept calling her ‘Meghan Markle’.

‘You know I’m Sussex now,’ Meghan said, explaining that sharing a family name with her children is meaningful.

But many noted the irony: despite visiting Sussex only once, the title is now central to her public persona.

Their children, Archie and Lilibet, also use ‘Sussex’ as their surname—a longstanding royal family tradition where titles substitute for last names.

(Prince Harry himself was known as ‘Harry Wales’ during his school and military years.)

Even this has been a source of controversy, with reports suggesting Harry and Meghan feared delays to their children’s British passports were linked to their desire to include His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) on the documents.

The passport drama

According to reports, the couple became ‘exasperated’ after months of waiting for Archie and Lilibet’s passports, believing the delay was tied to the HRH title.

At one point, they reportedly considered using ‘Spencer’—a tribute to Princess Diana—as an alternative surname if the issue was not resolved.

Following legal processes and several cancelled appointments, the passports were eventually issued using the HRH titles and ‘Sussex’ as the surname.

Buckingham Palace has denied any interference from King Charles or his staff.

Still, the episode has deepened public speculation that the couple’s ties to the United Kingdom—and to the royal family—remain strained.

Should the titles stay or go?

This leads to the question many are now asking in Sussex and beyond—should Harry and Meghan continue to hold the titles?

For some, the titles are meaningful links to history and tradition. For others, they represent a relationship that has grown distant, perhaps even fractured.

Royal titles have always been a double-edged sword. They bring prestige and recognition, but also expectations—such as acknowledging key events in the counties they represent.

For many in Sussex, the couple’s absence on Sussex Day felt like a missed opportunity to reconnect with the region.

A royal family in flux

This all comes as the royal family faces its own internal shifts—from generational change to evolving public expectations.

The Sussexes’ ongoing journey—part celebrity, part constitutional—raises larger questions about what it means to be royal today.

Is royalty about duty and heritage, or about modern reinvention and individual freedom?

Is it possible to embrace both?

What does this mean for royal titles today?

Whether symbolic or serious, the Sussex titles continue to spark debate.

The royal family’s place in public life is no longer taken for granted, and gestures—no matter how small—still carry weight.

As the monarchy adapts, public response to these events may shape how future titles are honoured or reassigned.

What are your thoughts on the role of royal titles in today’s world? Should Harry and Meghan keep theirs—or is it time for change?

We invite you to share your views in the comments below and join the conversation with fellow readers.

Also read: Royal insider spills the ‘sad truth’ for Harry and Meghan’s social media posts