Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would turn any attempt to remove their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles into a public dispute with the monarchy, commentator Mark Dolan has predicted, despite King Charles III recently reaffirming that their status remains unchanged.
Speaking on the Daily Expresso podcast, Dolan forecast that Prince William would pursue the issue after becoming king. Neither Buckingham Palace nor Kensington Palace has publicly confirmed such a plan, and the Sussexes have issued no response to a title-removal proposal in the accounts provided.
"Harry and Meghan will weaponise any attempts to strip them of their titles," Dolan told host JJ Anisiobi. He argued that the couple would portray themselves as victims, describing that as central to their public approach.
His prediction went beyond the position Charles set out following the Sussexes' return to Britain in August. A Sept. 7 letter issued by the Lord Chamberlain on the King's behalf stated that there had been "no change to the current status" of Harry and Meghan.
The letter reaffirmed that they are not working members of the Royal Family and described their position as "akin to private citizens with commercial and charitable interests." It also reiterated that they would continue not to use the styles His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness.
Those restrictions leave their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles intact. The distinction is important to the dispute Dolan envisages: not using an HRH style is different from losing a peerage, and the September clarification did not announce proceedings to remove one.
"I don't think Charles will strip the titles," Dolan said. "I think William will, and it's going to be ugly."
Removing a peerage would also involve more than a future monarch's personal decision. A House of Lords Library briefing published in November 2025 said a peerage could be removed only through an Act of Parliament, a requirement that complicates predictions of unilateral action by William.
Separate reporting by Express.co.uk claimed William was "instrumental" in the September letter. An unnamed source described it as "a big win" for him and claimed he would continue pressing Charles to remove the Sussexes' titles.
That account has not been publicly confirmed by either palace. The established position is that Charles authorized the clarification; the reporting does not establish that William ordered or authored it.
Dolan argued that continued use of the titles allows Harry and Meghan to "pretend to be royal," calling that a problem for both the family and the institution. Those remarks reflect his criticism of their public roles, rather than a change to their recognized status.
