Prince William made important gesture towards Harry and Meghan to avoid humiliating couple

Prince William is said to have quietly opposed efforts to formally strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, fearing the move would be seen as a public humiliation for the couple and further deepen the royal rift.

Harry and Meghan, who stepped back from their royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California, have continued to use their Sussex titles in public appearances and branded initiatives.

Although they are no longer permitted to use their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) styles for commercial activities, both have retained their full titles bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II at their wedding in 2018.

In recent weeks, debates around those titles have resurfaced - particularly following Meghan's use of her HRH style in a card attached to a gift basket, which read, "With the compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex."

Though the Sussex team insisted that HRH can still be used in private settings, critics argue it blurs the lines between their royal past and their independent future.

Despite pressure from some quarters of the British public and media commentators to remove the couple's peerages, royal expert Jennie Bond believes Prince William is unlikely to act on such calls.

"Granted, there seems to be a public appetite for stripping them of their titles, but I think it's unlikely that William would choose to do this. It would seem, and in fact would be, quite vindictive," Bond told The Mirror.

Legal hurdles and royal precedent complicate title removal

The decision to revoke peerages is far from simple. While certain honors may be removed by the monarch, Bond points out that stripping Harry of the Duke of Sussex title would likely require parliamentary legislation.

"Some titles could be removed on the will of the Sovereign, but the universal view is that to strip someone of their Peerage demands an act of Parliament," she explained.

Harry's full titles - Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel - were all conferred upon him in 2018.

Revoking these titles would involve a politically sensitive process, one unlikely to be prioritized by any government, Bond suggests: "It would be a brave government to venture into that field when there are, in all honesty, so many more pressing issues."

She also notes that royal precedent does not revocation of such titles, citing King Edward VIII, who retained his Duke of Windsor title for life even after abdicating and living in exile.

While Harry and William's relationship remains fractured, Bond believes William would rather keep his distance than engage in further public disputes.

"William may remain estranged from his brother forever, even though this would be a very sad state of affairs," she said. "But... I don't think he would trouble himself with taking away either of their titles."

The couple's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, also became eligible for royal titles following King Charles III's accession in 2022.

While the move was met with backlash by critics who questioned the logic of extending royal status to children of non-working royals, the Sussexes defended the decision in a rare public statement.

"The children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace," they said.

As for Meghan's continued use of her HRH title, Bond believes the couple would not take kindly to losing their official royal designations.

"So I'm sure they would be hurt and angry if theirs were taken from them," she added. "It would, inevitably, reduce their standing, particularly, perhaps, in the eyes of the American public, who seem to adore royalty."

For now, Prince William appears to be opting for diplomacy over drama, choosing not to inflame the already strained relationship between his family and the Sussexes. Whether that approach holds in the long term remains to be seen.