The recent fall of Prince Andrew has reignited concerns throughout royal circles — and reportedly left Prince Harry and Meghan Markle worried that they may be next in line to see their royal privileges revoked.
In mid-October 2025, Andrew announced he would relinquish his Duke of York title and other royal honors following renewed scrutiny over his connections to Jeffrey Epstein and allegations made by Virginia Giuffre. Buckingham Palace confirmed the move — though legally his dukedom cannot be removed without an act of Parliament — and Andrew will no longer use his titles or honors that once defined his public identity.
That dramatic step has sparked new speculation about a broader housecleaning among royals. Sources close to royal watchers suggest Prince William, as heir apparent and future sovereign, may use Andrew’s forced retreat as a blueprint for tighter reform. One insider told Yahoo! that William could strip Harry and Meghan of their royal titles entirely when he becomes king — citing the precedent now set by Andrew’s dethroning.
To many observers, the comparison seems inevitable. Harry and Meghan’s departure from frontline royal duties in 2020 already resulted in the approval of removing their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) prefixes. But they retained their titles as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, were assigned prince and princess titles after King Charles’s accession in 2022.
Yet critics of a further title purge warn of potential backlash. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward has cautioned that stripping Harry and Meghan of their remaining titles might be seen as “unkind” or punitive, arguing that the public may view it as symbolic retaliation rather than institutional reform.
Meanwhile, some palace sources reportedly argue the monarchy should be “slimmed down” — with only working royals holding official titles. In that vision, even the children of non-residing royals could lose formal royal styling. William and his advisers are said to believe that it’s important for the crown to appear above personal disputes.
For now, Buckingham Palace has not released a public plan or statement confirming any title revocations beyond Andrew’s surrender. But with the royal brand under relentless scrutiny and the precedent freshly established, Harry and Meghan may face a reckoning of status sooner than they anticipated.
In the unfolding drama, titles have become more than symbolic — they are markers of legitimacy, control, and identity in a monarchy under pressure. And as lines are redrawn within the House of Windsor, no royal connection is entirely safe.
