Prince Harry stepped away from royal life six years ago and has shown little sign of regret since. The Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, officially left their roles as working members of the Royal Family in January 2020 and relocated from the UK to the United States.
Although the couple initially hoped to retain a part-time royal role while becoming financially independent, the arrangement was rejected by the Royal Household. As a result, Harry, now 41, and Meghan, 44, permanently left royal duties behind. Since then, the prince has experienced several significant losses.
Below is a breakdown of what Prince Harry has lost since his departure.
ROYAL TITLES
When Harry and Meghan stepped down, Buckingham Palace announced they would no longer be permitted to use their “HRH” (His/Her Royal Highness) styles because they were no longer working royals.
However, they retained their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles, which were granted by the late Queen Elizabeth II upon their marriage in 2018. In January 2020, Buckingham Palace confirmed that while the titles would remain, the HRH styling would no longer be used.
PATRONAGES
Following their decision to step back, the couple were given a 12-month review period to reconsider. Once it was confirmed they would not return to royal duties, all their royal patronages were withdrawn.
In 2021, Buckingham Palace stated that stepping away from royal service meant relinquishing the responsibilities tied to public duty. As a result, Harry and Meghan lost patronages including the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, the Rugby Football Union, the Rugby Football League, the Royal National Theatre, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
MILITARY TITLES
Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, also gave up several honorary military positions. These included Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Naval Commands’ Small Ships and Diving.
He was required to relinquish all honorary military appointments and no longer holds any official military rank.
FROGMORE COTTAGE
Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor estate residence where Harry and Meghan lived as working royals, was another loss. Initially, they retained access to the property after moving abroad.
However, following the publication of Harry’s memoir Spare, the couple were asked to vacate the property and return the keys. This left them without a permanent UK base, despite Harry previously expressing affection for the home and its surroundings.
RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILY
One of the most significant losses has been Harry’s strained relationship with members of his family. Tensions reportedly escalated after his departure and were further aggravated by public interviews, documentaries, and revelations in his memoir.
His relationship with Prince William is believed to be the most damaged, with reports suggesting the brothers are no longer on speaking terms. While Harry’s relationship with King Charles also suffered, it is thought to have slightly improved following a meeting in September.
POPULARITY
Once among the most popular members of the Royal Family, Prince Harry’s public approval has declined notably since 2020. The drop in popularity has also affected Meghan Markle.
According to YouGov ratings, Harry’s popularity currently stands at around 38%, significantly lower than during his time as a senior royal, reflecting reduced public support since the move commonly referred to as “Megxit.”
