Yes. The monarch can formally remove an HRH style by issuing Letters Patent under the royal prerogative, according to the House of Commons Library. But Buckingham Palace’s 2020 announcement said Prince Harry and Meghan would not use their HRH styles; it did not announce that they had been formally removed.
What does HRH mean, and how can it be removed?
HRH—“His Royal Highness” or “Her Royal Highness”—is a style, not a peerage title. The House of Commons Library explains that it is conferred by Letters Patent under the royal prerogative and can be removed through the same kind of instrument. House of Commons Library: Royal titles.
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That means formal removal is legally possible. It does not mean removal has occurred: the sources available do not establish that a Sussex-specific Letters Patent removing Harry and Meghan’s HRH styles has been issued.
What changed for Harry and Meghan in 2020?
In a statement published on 18 January 2020, Buckingham Palace said: “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.” Buckingham Palace statement.
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The wording describes non-use, linked to their status as non-working members of the Royal Family. It does not say that their HRH styles were formally taken away. Those are distinct situations: a person may refrain from using a style without a formal instrument removing it.
How is HRH different from other royal titles?
HRH is not interchangeable with the Prince or Princess dignity, or with a peerage such as a dukedom. The 1917 Letters Patent address eligibility for the Prince or Princess dignity and the HRH style; a peerage is a separate title. The House of Commons Library sets out the relevant distinctions in its briefing on royal titles.
The Titles Deprivation Act 1917 is another, separate mechanism: Parliament enacted it during the First World War to allow the removal of certain British titles. It should not be treated as the same process as removing an HRH style under Letters Patent. Titles Deprivation Act 1917.
What does the Andrew precedent show?
The College of Arms reports that Letters Patent in 2025 removed the Prince dignity and HRH style from former Prince Andrew. College of Arms: Letters Patent concerning Prince Andrew.
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This is a recent example of the formal mechanism being used. It does not show that the same action has been taken against Harry or Meghan, and it does not make their 2020 non-use arrangement equivalent to Andrew’s formal removal.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the latest reported position on the Sussexes?
An Associated Press report dated 7 September 2026 says a letter sent on behalf of the King stated that Harry and Meghan remained non-working members and would continue refraining from using royal titles. The report quoted the letter as saying: “To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that (this) information be shared.” Associated Press report, 7 September 2026.
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That report concerns communicating their status and continued non-use. It does not report that a new formal instrument removed their HRH styles.
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