Removing Meghan Markle and Harry's Sussex titles would 'backfire badly on royals'

Removing Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Sussex titles would "backfire badly" on the royal family, the boss of a pressure group has claimed

Graham Smith CEO, of anti-monarchy organisation Republic, said the family should only take away the Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles if there is 'public concern' about the couple's commercial projects.

Republic campaigns for the monarchy to be abolished and he said the royal family's decision depended on whether Harry and Meghan's caused further controversy.

Mr Smith told the Daily Express : "I think it is very unlikely that they would move to take away those titles.

"It depends on how far Meghan and Harry go and whether they do anything which causes significant controversy.

Harry and Meghan were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey (VIA REUTERS)

"In which case, they may see it as an opportunity to take those titles off them.

"It may be that there is a build-up of concern about them using those titles to pursue commercial projects, leading to a body of public opinion to get rid of them.

“I think that the public does not care and is not interested in them using those titles to pursue commercial projects."

The Queen and members of her family have been warned about removing their Sussex titles (Getty Images)

He said the public did not care and was not interested in whether they have titles.

But he warned taking action without being prompted would have consequences.

Mr Smith said: "Being proactive or acting without any prompt to take those titles off them would backfire badly on the royals.

"It would just seem petty and vindictive."

Harry last saw his family face to face at his grandfather Prince Philip's funeral in April (PA)

Meghan and Harry stepped down as members of the Royal Family in March 2020.

The couple has since struck lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have so far been allowed to keep their titles despite aiming a number of digs at the monarchy in recent interviews.

According to royal commentator Katie Nicholl, Prince Harry is happy with the reception his explosive recent remarks have received.

The Queen is mourning her husband Prince Philip (Getty Images)

Ms Nicholl said the UK is shocked Prince Harry went as far as he did in discussing the "pain and suffering" of his childhood in the Royal Family following the Duke of Sussex swipe at Prince Charles' parenting during an interview on the Armchair Expert podcast.

"My understanding is both with the Oprah interview and this recent podcast, Prince Harry feels both of them have gone down very well.

"He predicted and anticipated there would be this type of backlash in the British press."

Harry last saw his family face to face at his grandfather Prince Philip's funeral in April.