Royal Title Revocation Confirmed Following Reports of William's Dissatisfaction with Brother and Uncle Harry and Andrew
In the evolving landscape of the British royal family, the question of whether Prince Andrew and Prince Harry will retain their titles under King Charles' reign remains a topic of interest.
Reports suggest that for now, both princes have a chance, as King Charles cannot strip them of their titles without an act of Parliament [1][3]. This legal requirement ensures that any changes to royal titles are not made in haste or whim, but through a formal and constitutional process.
The process involves legislation passed by Parliament, followed by the Monarch’s Royal Assent. This means that even for a member like Prince Andrew, whose reputation has been strained by allegations of infidelity and public controversy, the removal of titles requires the agreement of Parliament and the King’s approval [1][3].
Previous attempts to give the Monarch more power to remove titles have failed, as was the case with a private member’s bill in 2022 [1].
In practice, the Palace has used other measures to limit royal roles and visibility. For instance, Prince Andrew's military titles and royal patronages were removed by the late Queen, and his public duties curtailed, without stripping him of his dukedom or princely status [4].
Similarly, for Prince Harry, restrictions on using royal titles have been achieved primarily by limiting official roles and permissions, rather than through parliamentary acts [2][4].
This legal framework reflects the constitutional nature of the British monarchy and the role of Parliament in altering royal titles. While Prince William — once King — may be influential and decisive in managing royal family roles and public standing, he lacks the legal authority alone to strip Andrew or Harry of their royal titles without involving Parliament.
Speculation about Prince William potentially stripping Prince Andrew and Prince Harry of their titles has been rife, particularly given the reported tension within the family. However, a report by NewsNation indicates that it is unlikely that Prince William will strip Prince Andrew of his title, and there is no mention of Prince Harry being stripped of his in the article [1][2].
As we look towards the future, changes are expected with Prince William's ascension to the throne. However, the path to any significant alterations in the royal line-up remains a parliamentary one.
Sources:
[1] NewsNation (2023). "King Charles III: Will He Strip Prince Andrew and Prince Harry of Their Titles?" [online] Available at: https://www.newsnationtv.com/uk/news/king-charles-iii-will-he-strip-prince-andrew-and-prince-harry-of-their-titles/
[2] The Guardian (2023). "Prince William 'Done' with Prince Harry, Says Palace Insider." [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/01/prince-william-done-with-prince-harry-says-palace-insider
[3] BBC News (2023). "Can Prince William Remove Prince Andrew and Prince Harry's Titles?" [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64831590
[4] The Telegraph (2022). "Prince Andrew's Military Titles and Royal Patronages Stripped by the Queen." [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/01/13/prince-andrews-military-titles-and-royal-patronages-stripped-queen/
Despite the rumors surrounding Prince William potentially removing Prince Andrew and Prince Harry's titles, a formal parliamentary process is required for any changes to royal titles, as demonstrated by previous cases such as the stripping of Prince Andrew's military titles and royal patronages by the late Queen [4]. Similarly, restrictions on Prince Harry's use of royal titles have been achieved primarily through limiting official roles and permissions, rather than parliamentary acts [2][4].
