A royal expert has predicted which members of the Royal Family he thinks could lose their titles once Prince William becomes King.
There have long been rumours that the 44-year-old Prince of Wales could reduce the size of the Royal Family when he ascends the throne as a way to modernise the institution while simultaneously cutting costs.
Now, Richard Fitzwilliams has given his two cents to The Express, forecasting that Prince Harry, 42, and his wife Meghan Markle, 45, would be the first of the royals to be stripped of their titles if William were to shrink the Firm.
“As long as the rift with William persists, they reportedly haven’t spoken for years, there remains the possibility that when he becomes King, he will reduce the size of the Royal Family.”
The royal commentator added that the titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, were also at risk, as well as those belonging to the York sisters, Princesses Beatrice, 38, and Eugenie, 36.
“[The Sussexes] and their children and Beatrice and Eugenie could lose their titles.
“This would reduce their appeal, though not, at least for a considerable time, their public profile,” he revealed.
Prince William has remained estranged from his brother ever since Harry and his wife walked away from their duties as working royals in 2020, and went on to share details of their private interactions with members of the Firm in televised interviews and the 2022 Netflix series Harry & Meghan.
The Duke of Sussex shared a particularly personal story about his brother in his 2023 memoir Spare, detailing a physical altercation between the two in 2019.
William allegedly described Harry’s wife as “difficult,” “rude,” and “abrasive” in the heated argument, before grabbing his collar and knocking him to the floor.
As for Beatrice and Eugenie, the York sisters have remained a cite of controversy ever since their parents’ links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein came to light in the Epstein files.
Former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, who have already been stripped of their titles by King Charles III, were mentioned a number of times in the documents.
Fergie, 66, called Epstein a “supreme friend” in emails released by the Department of Justice, while also apologising to the convicted sex offender for publicly condemning him.
Meanwhile, emails appeared to show that Andrew, 66, shared confidential information with the disgraced financier during his time as Trade Envoy, and invited him to dine at Buckingham Palace.
The former Duke of York is currently under investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office and potential sexual offences.
Mention in the Epstein files does not indicate any wrongdoing.