Prince Harry Will Fight to Win Back His Honorary Military Titles
Prince Harry hopes to regain his honorary military titles when he and Meghan Markle review the terms of their royal departure next month.
- Prince Harry hopes to regain his military titles when he and Meghan Markle review the terms of their royal departure next month.
- Harry was forced to give up three honorary titles when he stepped down as a senior royal last year.
- "His military work is one of the most important things to him," a friend of the Duke told the Telegraph. "Of course he wants to keep them."
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals in March 2020, Harry lost his honorary military titles: Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington, and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command. Multiple royal insiders have since stated that for Harry, who spent 10 years in the British Army, the loss of his titles was a particularly painful aspect of his royal departure. And according to the Telegraph, the Duke of Sussex is now planning to win them back.
The Sussexes will review the terms of their departure with the royal family in March, one year after they officially stepped down as senior royals. At the meeting—which is expected to be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic—Harry hopes to regain his military titles. "His military work is one of the most important things to him," a friend told the Telegraph. "Of course he wants to keep them."
A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)
A photo posted by on
It's not clear whether he'll be able to persuade the royals, however: The Queen is reportedly staunchly opposed to allowing the Sussexes to retain some aspects of their royal lives while pursuing independence and privacy in the U.S. The Telegraph reports that "[s]everal names have been mooted as the Duke's replacements, including the Princess Royal as the first female Captain General of the Royal Marines, although more recently it has been claimed that some in the force have pushed for the Duke of Cambridge, who served with the RAF, to take on the mantle."
But Harry, who continued his military work after leaving active service by establishing the Invictus Games Foundation, "firmly" believes he's best suited to the role, according to the newspaper. What's more, a friend of the royal told the Telegraph that he always intended to travel back and forth between the U.S. and the U.K., but the COVID-19 pandemic thwarted his plans this year.
Earlier this week, Harry won "substantial damages" from Associated Newspapers, publishers of the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online, over "baseless, false, and defamatory" claims that he'd turned his back on the military since moving to the U.S. His lawyer, Jenny Afia, said in court, "The duke's commitment to the men and women who have put their lives on the line, to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and to military families, is steadfast and unquestionable."
RELATED STORIES
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.
-
The CFDA Awards Red Carpet Had an Unofficial Dress Code: American Glamour
This year's looks highlighted emerging brands and industry power players.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Blake Lively Styles Herself Like a Boss for the CFDA Awards
She dripped in diamonds.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Kylie Jenner and This Couture Gown Are Birds of a Feather
The beauty mogul hit the CFDA Awards red carpet in a 'Black Swan'-coded look.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
King Charles Is "Happy" He Can "Quietly Ask" Princess Eugenie About Prince Harry
"The King is probably happy that Harry still has at least one royal cousin he clearly trusts."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince Harry Reveals How Meghan Markle Is Different From Other Royal Women in Viral TikTok
The Duke of Sussex is always ready to defend his wife.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William Shares Rare Comments About Princess Diana and Prince Harry in New Documentary
"She took Harry and I both there... And I was a bit anxious as to what to expect."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince Harry Has Beat Out David Beckham and Channing Tatum on 'Hottest Men of All Time' List
Gingers for the win.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
King Charles and Queen Camilla Just Recreated Meghan and Harry's Famous Sydney Opera House Photo
They're channeling the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Australia.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle Gives Rare Insight into "Beautiful Friendship" With Her Wedding Dress Designer
The Duchess revealed which pieces she owns from Clare Waight Keller's Uniqlo collection.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
During His Royal Tour in Australia, King Charles Reveals One Way He Won't Be Following in Prince Harry's Footsteps
"If I was a younger man."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Reportedly Purchased Portugal Home to Stay "Connected" to the Royals
A royal expert called the move "extremely significant."
By Amy Mackelden Published