Is Prince Harry About To Experience His Biggest Royal Loss Yet?

Prince Harry's relationship with his family has been strained since he and wife Meghan Markle decided to step down from their royal duties in 2020. As a result, the couple lost their patronages, with Buckingham Palace explaining that they would be redistributed "among working members of The Royal Family." Harry also lost his honorary military appointments. The couple moved to California and during their now infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry claimed that he had been cut off financially from the royal family's fortune and was forced to live off of the inheritance from his late mother, Princess Diana, according to the BBC. He also alleged that his father, Prince Charles, refused to return his phone calls.

"Because I took matters into my own hands," Harry said (via Elle). "It was like I need to do this for my family. This is not a surprise to anybody; it's really sad that it's got to this point, but I've got to do something for my own mental health, for my wife's, because I could see where this is headed."

But while Harry's relationship with Queen Elizabeth seemed to remain on good terms, there are rumors that she is now considering taking an important title away from her grandson.

There have been reports out of Buckingham Palace that Queen Elizabeth is seriously contemplating removing both Prince Harry and Prince Andrew from their roles as Counsellors of State. That would mean only Prince Charles and Prince William would hold the title, which allows them by law to act in Elizabeth's place when she is indisposed.

The revelation about Andrew is not shocking, given that he is facing a civil trial related to sexual assault allegations. In January 2022, Queen Elizabeth stripped her son of his military titles and charities. As a result, he will no longer use "His Royal Highness" in any official capacity. Yet taking the title away from Harry would mean that a return to royal life would be nearly impossible. "Being removed, by parliament no less, as a Counsellor of State would really be the nail in Harry's coffin of his former life as a frontline member of the royal family," a source told The Overtimer. "If the Queen does take steps to have this situation remedied and Harry is axed, there really is no going back. All of these decisions — the military titles, the HRHs in abeyance — could theoretically be reversed. However, having parliament take formal action to remove them as Counsellors of State is in another league entirely."

As he awaits to find out if he'll lose his Counsellor of State title, Prince Harry is pursuing legal action in the U.K. in order to get police protection when his family visits the country. Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, as well as their two children, lost official police security after the couple stepped down from their royal duties. However, Harry argues that as an heir to the throne, his family deserves the same protection as the rest of the royals. While the prince is willing to pay for the security out of his own pocket, the offer was rejected in 2020.

"The UK will always be Prince Harry's home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe in," according to a legal statement (via Daily Mail). "With the lack of police protection, comes too great a risk. Prince Harry hopes that his petition — after close to two years of pleas for security in the UK — will resolve this situation."

In the meantime, it's still unknown if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee this summer. The event will include a derby at Epsom Downs, a Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace, and even a jubilee lunch, and all members of the royal family are expected to be in attendance.

With Prince Harry in the United States, Kate Middleton has taken over as the new royal patron of the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League, a role previously held by her brother-in-law. It is the first time one of the prince's patronages has been officially passed to another senior member of the royal family since Harry stepped down from his royal duties in 2020 (via People). 

Kate has taken a more active role in the royal family within the past year, especially as Queen Elizabeth deals with health issues. In fact, some insiders believe the future of the British monarchy is resting on Kate's shoulders. "As the Prince Andrew scandal shows, the monarchy is in desperate need of reassuringly conventional royal performers," Patrick Jephson, the former chief of staff for Princess Diana, told The New York Post. "Catherine is just what these troubled royal times need — it's no exaggeration that the Windsors' future lies in her hands."

And a source noted the difference between Kate and Harry's wife, Meghan Markle. "When Kate came in, she said, 'I'm going to learn the ropes.' Meghan said, 'I'm going to hit the ground running,'" said the insider. "Learning the ropes is a lifetime job; hitting the ground running is not the royal style, and for good reason. You have to know who you're running to — and who's alongside you."