House of Lords Strips Meghan and Harry of Titles, Returning to Prince Augustus, Descendant of Original Sussex Owner

The Duke of Sussex, a hereditary title within the British royal family, has been stripped from Meghan and Harry by the House of Lords.

The title, which holds a specific rank of nobility, was first created in 1801 and takes its name from the historic county of Sussex in England.

Queen Elizabeth II revived the title in 2018 and bestowed it upon Prince Harry just before his marriage to Meghan Markle, who became the Duchess of Sussex.

The original creation of the title occurred on November 24, 1801, when Prince Augustus Frederick, the sixth son of King George III, was granted the title of Duke of Sussex.

At the same time, he was also made Baron Arclow and Earl of Inverness.

However, Prince Augustus Frederick's marriage to Lady Augusta Moray was annulled due to a lack of royal permission under the Royal Marriage Act 1772.

In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan lost their ability to use their HRH titles when they decided to step back from their royal duties.

While Harry remained a prince and the couple retained their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, they were no longer addressed as his or her Royal Highness.

However, due to numerous requests from the people of Sussex, the House of Lords has now decided to strip Meghan and Harry of their titles and pass them on to the descendants of Prince Augustus Frederick.

Historically, changes to the titles and styles of British royal offspring not born to the current sovereign have occurred.

For example, when Prince Albert became Prince Consort to Queen Victoria, he changed the title and style of such offspring.

Prior to this change, all children of the Prince and Princess of the United Kingdom held their titles.

Albert preferred German Duke or Family titles and styles, with the Prince and Princess of Bequeathed title.

Prince Andrew, for instance, was known as such until he married and became the Duke of York.

His daughters are referred to as “of York” rather than “of the United Kingdom.”

Similarly, Archie, Harry and Meghan's son, will not have a princely title.

Even if he inherits the Dukedom from Harry, his future children will only be titled as Lord or Lady.

This is because great-grandchildren of the monarch are not entitled to princely titles, except for William's children.

This decision may not sit well with Meghan, as it means that her descendants will no longer hold princely titles.

Instead, they will be like ordinary individuals, addressed as Mr. or Mrs.

The granting of these titles by the Queen shortly after their marriage in 2018 brought joy to the Sussexes.

They had assumed that they would continue working as part of the royal family and fulfill their responsibilities.

However, once they stepped away from their roles and relocated to Montecito, their relationship with the public soured, and petitions demanding the removal of their titles began to emerge.

The titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not merely honorifics; they also come with significant financial benefits, including income from real estate, agriculture, and cultural activities within the county.

In response to the couple's move to the United States, the Parallel Parliament filed a petition stating that the title was given to them on the condition that they serve the monarchy as working royals.

As this is no longer the case, the petition argues that the title should not be used for personal financial gain and should therefore be removed.

In conclusion, the House of Lords has made the decision to strip Meghan and Harry of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, returning them to Prince Augustus Frederick's descendants.

This development not only affects their status but also has financial implications.