Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s decision to stop using their royal titles has reignited debate over how the monarchy handles royal status — and may, according to royal commentators, ultimately work in favour of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Buckingham Palace recently confirmed that the Duke of York and his former wife would no longer use their titles in an official capacity, following renewed scrutiny over Andrew’s links to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
However, as CNN’s royal correspondent Max Foster pointed out, the decision doesn’t amount to a formal loss of rank.
“Prince Andrew has not been stripped of his titles,” Foster explained. “He’s simply agreed to stop using most of them… Nothing has actually been taken from him.”
Foster noted that Andrew “remains Prince Andrew” — a title that, as the son of a monarch, cannot be revoked.
This distinction, royal watchers say, could offer quiet reassurance to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Despite frequent calls from critics for King Charles to remove Harry and Meghan’s titles, Foster’s clarification highlights the limits of royal authority in such matters.
“While the use of a title can be restricted, hereditary titles themselves can only be removed by an act of Parliament,” Foster said — a move viewed as highly unlikely.
Analysts suggest that the latest development underscores how deeply rooted royal titles are in British constitutional tradition — and may leave Harry and Meghan feeling more secure in their own standing, despite ongoing controversy and criticism from detractors.
