Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, dramatically stepped down as senior royals last March to seek financial independence. The couple quickly made a comfortable life for themselves in the US by signing multi-million-pound deals to make documentaries and podcasts with Netflix and Spotify respectively. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex retained their HRH styles despite their new venture, although they do not use them.
But royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams warned their titles will come under review when they hold a 12-month Megxit review with the Queen in March.
He added the pair could be losing popularity in the UK following their move to the US.
Mr Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: “Harry and Meghan are certainly less popular in the UK but they are concentrating on the US and the wider world.
“We will only know the true extent of their global reach after the pandemic.
“The titles of Duke and Sussex are in the gift of the Queen, they received them on their wedding day.
“There is no call for them to give them up, it would serve no purpose at all and no sign whatever that they wish to do so.
“They still can keep their HRH titles but cannot use them. This is unlikely to change although the Sandringham Agreement will be reviewed by the end of March.”
Mr Fitzwilliams added it is too soon to determine whether Harry and Meghan’s new brand will have the same level of interest from royal fans.
READ MORE:Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘strengthened’ as a couple since Megxit
In their Spotify podcast debut last month, they introduced themselves simply as “Harry” and “Meghan”.
However, commentator Darren Grimes criticised Meghan and Harry over their new commercial ventures as he claimed the pair were at risk of “exposing the magic of monarchy” by heading down a reality television route.
He called for the pair to have their titles stripped when their 12-month review with the Queen arrives in March.
Mr Grimes said: “No objective royal commentator can possibly argue that Harry and Meghan have given up their duties at rainy charity galas and events here in Blighty to pursue a more ‘private life’, moving from the service to their Queen and Country, to instead pander to ‘wokery’ in Hollywood as they weren’t the main event and knew they never would be.
“With a new fly-on-the-wall Netflix reality telly series and a Spotify podcast series, Harry and Meghan risk turning the Windsors into the Kardashians.
“The potential risk for political activists and movements to be offered a platform by the son of the heir to the throne via this Archewell Audio initiative, similar to a channel created by the Obamas, risks exposing the magic of monarchy that sits above politics to protect the integrity of it.
“Sitting above the political fray explains the Royal Family’s popular support across all four constituent parts of our United Kingdom – they are the unifying force of it.
“The pair ought to be stripped of their royal titles before irreparable harm can be inflicted by them, let them enjoy their deals, platforms, exposure and trinkets in California, but the institution of the British monarchy is much too important to be harmed by reality telly, Spotify and fake honours.”
