Not all of them, and not by himself. The King can change entitlement to royal styles such as “Prince” and “Royal Highness” under the royal prerogative, but the UK Government says an Act of Parliament is required to remove a peerage once it has been conferred. Harry’s princely dignity, his HRH style, the Duke of Sussex peerage and Meghan’s Duchess title are legally distinct.
What “royal titles” means in this case
The phrase can refer to different forms of status. Harry is a prince and has the style His Royal Highness (HRH); he is also Duke of Sussex, a peerage title. Meghan’s Duchess of Sussex title is associated with that peerage. These categories do not all follow the same rules.
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| Status | What it means | How it can be changed |
|---|---|---|
| Prince | Harry’s princely dignity | It may be changed by statute or under the royal prerogative. The House of Commons Library says a prerogative change would likely require ministerial advice. House of Commons Library |
| HRH | The honorific style “His Royal Highness” | It can be conferred or removed by Letters Patent under the royal prerogative. House of Commons Library |
| Duke of Sussex | Harry’s peerage | The UK Government says an Act of Parliament is required to remove a peerage once conferred. UK Government written answer, 4 November 2025 |
| Duchess of Sussex | Meghan’s title associated with the Sussex peerage | As a peerage-related title, it is not something the King can simply cancel on his own; the Government says removal of a conferred peerage requires an Act of Parliament. UK Government written answer, 4 November 2025 |
What the King can change—and what Parliament must do
In a written answer on 4 November 2025, the UK Government drew the central distinction: “The Sovereign may change the entitlement to the titles and styles such as ‘Prince’ and ‘Royal Highness’ under the Royal Prerogative. An Act of Parliament is required to remove a peerage once conferred.” Read the answer on Parliament’s website.
That means the headline claim that the monarch cannot take away any of Harry and Meghan’s royal titles is too broad. The King has power over certain royal styles and dignities, but he cannot unilaterally deprive them of the Sussex peerage. Parliament would have to pass legislation to remove a peerage.
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What Harry and Meghan agreed to in 2020
When the couple stepped back from royal duties, Buckingham Palace said on 18 January 2020: “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.” Buckingham Palace statement.
That was an agreement not to use the HRH styles, effective as the arrangement took effect in spring 2020. It was not an announcement that the styles had been formally revoked. Non-use and legal removal are different: the first describes how the couple would present themselves; the second would require a formal change to their entitlement.
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What the Andrew precedent shows
In November 2025, King Charles III used Letters Patent to remove Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s entitlement to the styles “Royal Highness” and “Prince.” The Gazette notice records that Letters Patent dated 3 November declared he would “no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of ‘Royal Highness’ and the titular dignity of ‘Prince’.” The Gazette notice, published 5 November 2025.
The Duke of York peerage was dealt with separately: a royal warrant caused it to be removed from the Roll of the Peerage in October 2025. The House of Lords Library explains that removal from the Roll affects official recognition of a peer in documents; it is distinct from legally depriving someone of the peerage itself, which requires an Act of Parliament. House of Lords Library briefing.
The precedent therefore illustrates the split between royal styles and a peerage. It does not establish that the King can cancel the Duke or Duchess of Sussex peerage by issuing Letters Patent or directing a change to the Roll. The Titles Deprivation Act 1917 remains in force, but the House of Lords Library says it was designed for First World War enemies and is unlikely to apply to a general modern title dispute. A Removal of Titles Bill introduced in 2025 proposed broader powers, but the parliamentary record cited here does not establish that it became law. House of Lords Library briefing · Parliamentary record for the Removal of Titles Bill.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Would changing a title affect Harry’s place in the succession?
No. Succession is a separate legal matter; changing a title or style does not by itself remove someone from the line of succession. The Royal Family’s succession page lists Harry fifth, followed by Archie sixth and Lilibet seventh. Royal Family: succession.
Removing someone from the succession would require legislation. Parliamentary guidance also notes the constitutional convention that the other Commonwealth realms should concur with a change. House of Commons Library briefing on the line of succession.
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