A prominent royal commentator has urged the monarchy to remove Prince Harry's official titles, arguing it is necessary for 'clarity' after the Duke of Sussex made a pointed joke about former US President Donald Trump during a surprise American television appearance.
The Controversial Late Show Appearance
Prince Harry featured in a comedy sketch on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, December 3rd. The segment portrayed Harry auditioning for a role as a 'Christmas prince' in a Hallmark film. When host Stephen Colbert questioned why a real prince would want such a part, Harry quipped about American obsessions, leading to a more political remark.
'Really? I hear you elected a king,' Harry said, in a clear reference to the 'No Kings' protests that targeted Donald Trump's administration. He further jested about the lengths he would go to for the role, including 'settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House', an allusion to CBS's recent legal settlement with Mr Trump.
Expert Calls for Title Removal to Protect the Monarchy
In response, royal expert Tom Sykes, editor of the Royalist newsletter, has argued that Harry's continued use of his royal styles creates confusion. Sykes contends that while Harry believes he speaks as a private citizen, a global audience still sees him as an official representative of the Crown.
'The titles must be removed, not as punishment but for clarity,' Sykes wrote. 'Removing them draws a clear blue line between Prince Harry the royal and Harry the private citizen. It protects the monarchy from his volatility.'
Sykes emphasised that the move would signal to the American public that Harry's views are his own and do not reflect the stance of the Royal Family, especially significant given the warm relations between King Charles and Donald Trump during a recent UK state visit.
A Long-Standing Tension
This incident is not an isolated one. Prince Harry has a history of criticising Donald Trump, who has in return accused the Sussexes of being 'very disrespectful to the royal family' following their step back from official duties in 2020. Meghan Markle has also previously labelled Trump as 'divisive' and a 'misogynist'.
The expert's call for action underscores the ongoing tension between Harry's desire for personal expression and the Royal Family's tradition of political neutrality. The suggestion to strip his titles presents a drastic solution to a persistent diplomatic and constitutional headache for the institution.
