In August 2023, references to “His Royal Highness” were removed from Prince Harry’s profile on the Royal Family website. The change updated the profile’s wording; it did not formally strip his peerage titles. Since 2020, Buckingham Palace’s position has been that Harry and Meghan would not use their HRH styles because they were no longer working members of the Royal Family.
What changed on Prince Harry’s profile?
The Independent reported in August 2023 that the Royal Family website had removed “His Royal Highness” references from Harry’s biography. One reference had appeared in a passage about his public HIV test in 2016. The report established that the profile wording had changed, but not the exact date of the edit, who made it or the internal reason for its timing.
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Asked about website content, Buckingham Palace said the site contained “over five thousand pages” and that material had been revisited and updated periodically following Queen Elizabeth II’s death. The Palace also cautioned that some content could remain out of date while that process was underway. That was a general explanation of website maintenance, not a stated reason for this specific edit. The Independent’s August 2023 report quotes the Palace’s explanation.
Why did Harry stop using HRH?
The background dates to January 2020, when Harry and Meghan announced that they would step back as senior members of the Royal Family. On 18 January, Buckingham Palace set out the arrangement: “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.” The statement linked their use of HRH to their working status; it did not say the later website edit had taken place then.
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The 2020 arrangement also covered stepping back from royal duties, including official military appointments, and no longer receiving public funds for royal duties. Buckingham Palace said the new model would take effect in spring 2020. Queen Elizabeth II said in the statement published that day: “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.” Read the Queen and Buckingham Palace statements of 18 January 2020.
Did Harry lose the Duke of Sussex title?
No. The HRH style and Harry’s peerage titles are separate matters. The Royal Family’s profile lists his titles as The Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel, and says Queen Elizabeth II gave the Sussex titles to the couple on their wedding day. Removing HRH wording from a website biography is not the same as formally removing those titles.
The House of Commons Library describes the Sussexes’ position as an agreement not to use HRH, rather than a removal of their titles. Read the Commons Library briefing on royal titles. The Royal Family’s official profile provides the current listed titles and links to the relevant statements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened after the 2020 arrangement?
On 19 February 2021, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Harry and Meghan would not return as working members of the Royal Family. The statement said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family.” It also confirmed that their honorary military appointments and royal patronages would be returned to the Queen. Those decisions concern their royal roles and appointments; they do not change the distinction between HRH use and the peerage titles shown on Harry’s profile. The official profile includes the 2021 statement.
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What the website update does—and does not—show
- Established: HRH references were removed from Harry’s online profile by the time of the August 2023 report.
- Established: The Palace had said in January 2020 that the Sussexes would not use their HRH styles while no longer working members.
- Still listed: Harry’s official profile continues to name him as Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.
- Not established: The precise date or decision-maker for the profile edit, or a specific internal motive for its timing.
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