LONDON: Queen Elizabeth is likely is to strip Prince Harry of his three military patronages one year after he and his wife Meghan Markle quit the royal family.
British media reported that senior palace sources have suggested the monarch has decided not to allow Prince Harry to retain his three honourary military titles if he is no longer a full-time working royal. This means she will likely finalise the decision to take these patronages away from the Duke of Sussex at the end of the 12-month review of the so-called Megxit deal at the end of March.
The Queen left the door open for one year to a possible return into the royal fold of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear content with their new life in California, the monarch will reassign these positions to other senior royals. Among the royals tipped over the past months to take on one or more of these roles there are Prince William and Princess Anne.
The 12-month review was put in place in January 2019 to allow both parties to reconvene and re-discuss the terms of the Megxit agreement if they were unhappy with it.
Royal correspondent Richard Palmer for British media outlet has reported it will likely be a low-key meeting unlike the summit at Sandringham last year during which Meghan and Harry’s exit deal was flashed out.
READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle face backlash for retaining their royal titles
Prince Charles appeared keen on pursuing a deal closer to the half-in, half-out solution detailed by Meghan and Harry in their bombshell statement announcing their decision to step back. The Queen decided it was impossible to allow the couple to become financially independent while representing the royal family.
Following the March review, Prince Harry is set to lose his appointments as Captain General of the Royal Marines, which he inherited in 2017 from Prince Philip, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington in Bury St Edmunds and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command.
Prince Harry is determined to keep his military titles despite having stepped back from his royal role and moved to the United States.
A friend of the Duke’s told British media the Queen’s grandson was determined to retain his military links in the upcoming one-year review of the Megxit deal. “His military work is one of the most important things to him. Of course he wants to keep them,” he said.
Last month it was reported that Prince Harry would not return to the UK to arrange an extension to his “Megxit deal” due to coronavirus. Harry had planned to request a face-to-face meeting with the Queen after he and wife Meghan left their roles as senior working royals. A 12-month review of Harry and Meghan’s agreement with the Palace is due on March 31.
