The Palace seems to be gradually severing ties with the Sussexes. Buckingham Palace has recently unveiled fresh military appointments for multiple members of the royal family. This announcement comes hot on the heels of the official Royal website’s alteration to Harry’s HRH (His Royal Highness) status.
In total, nine family members, including Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Prince Edward, have received updated roles, just a month before King Charles’s anticipated Ascension Day.
A palace statement noted, ‘Following his Majesty’s Ascension, the king is pleased to announce further military appointments for active members of the royal family. These new appointments will continue to reflect the strong bond between the armed forces and the royal family during his Majesty’s reign.’
Within this new framework, the Princess of Wales has seen several advancements, including being named Commodore in Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, Colonel in Chief of the First Queen’s Dragoon Guards, and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the Royal Air Force Coningsby.
Prince William, on the other hand, has been bestowed three new appointments – Colonel in Chief of the Mercian Regiment, Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Valley, and the role of Colonel in Chief of the Army Air Corps, which means he now oversees Harry’s former unit, the 662 Squadron. A bittersweet turn of events for Harry, as this implies that not just anybody is taking over.
It appears that the Sussexes are facing a gradual freeze-out on both sides of the Atlantic. Their HRH titles were recently removed from the Royal website, and their Hollywood popularity seems to be waning. As the freeze-out intensifies, Meghan’s desperation for attention becomes more apparent. Recent PR pieces issued by the couple and their supporters have transitioned from substantive to trivial.
The removal of Prince Harry’s HRH title solidifies his exit from the royal inner circle. Expert Robert Johnson suggests that this move is another instance of King Charles allowing the dust to settle.
Communication between father and second son is practically nonexistent; Harry’s relationships with William and Camilla have been strained. Catherine Jobson remarked, ‘If Harry had any doubts about his position, the website update has surely clarified it. The decision to strip them – or technically, prohibit the use of the Sussex title – was correct. It was not malicious, just clear, proper, and long overdue, which is typical of the palace and its approach to new technology.’
Despite his heartache over his youngest son, King Charles has shown a more decisive hand. He evicted the couple from Frogmore Cottage, their Windsor residence, and is likely behind the website alterations. Even if he didn’t directly authorize the changes, he must have been aware of the ensuing conversation they’d spark. With the one-year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s passing swiftly approaching, the timing for this adjustment was deemed appropriate.
This was indeed a form of calculated precision, not an act of ruthlessness. An administrative correction, now merely stating that Megan ‘worked as an actress’ post-university rather than ‘worked as an actress’ with the Royal Highness distinction. Likewise, a passage detailing her involvement in writing and editing a lifestyle website has been adjusted to note that ‘The Duchess also wrote and edited a lifestyle website.’
For a couple whose identity is closely tied to their royal standing, this unexpected change serves as a blow. While they may retain their Duke and Duchess titles, the alteration underscores just how sidelined they’ve become and how their once-illuminating star quality has dimmed.”
