King Charles’ Bid to Block Archie from Duke of Sussex Title Sparks Controversy

In a surprising turn of events, royal commentator Richard Eden has revealed that King Charles III is reportedly keen on preventing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son, Archie Harrison, from inheriting the Duke of Sussex title.

This revelation comes shortly after the official confirmation that Archie has been elevated to prince status, now recognized as Prince Archie of Sussex on the royal family's website.

Earlier this month, excitement swirled around the royal family as Meghan and Harry also announced their daughter, Lilibet, would be styled as Princess Lilibet during her christening.

However, Eden's insights suggest that King Charles is maneuvering to ensure that Archie does not follow in his father's footsteps by inheriting the Duke of Sussex title.

The king's previous decision to make his brother, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh—with the stipulation that the title would revert to the crown upon Edward's death—sets a troubling precedent.

During a recent episode of the Palace Confidential talk show, Eden elaborated on this potential strategy.

He mentioned that there are whispers suggesting the King's motive might directly relate to stopping Archie from claiming the Duke of Sussex title.

Yet, this approach could pose challenges, as it would necessitate similar actions against all royal dukes, a move that may not sit well with the respected Dukes of Gloucester and Kent.

Harry and Meghan have long expressed their frustration regarding the royal family's reluctance to update their children's titles on official platforms.

Sources close to the couple have indicated that Buckingham Palace's recent acknowledgment of Archie and Lilibet's titles might be an attempt to mend fences between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.

However, the timing of this announcement raised eyebrows, leading some to speculate that it was a calculated effort to smooth relations amid ongoing tensions.

The Telegraph noted that palace aides likely weren't aware that Harry and Meghan had planned to publicly announce their children's titles so soon after the royal update.

It appears that the palace may have waited for the Sussexes to make their own declaration before proceeding with its own announcements.

Royal biographer Angela Levin weighed in on the situation, expressing concern about the implications of styling Lilibet as a princess.

In her commentary for Sky News Australia, she argued that the title places a heavy burden on the young girl, who may not fully comprehend the significance of her royal status.

By designating her as a princess, despite their distance from the royal fold, the Sussexes have intricately linked Lilibet to the British monarchy.

Levin further criticized the decision, pointing out that the couple has been vocal critics of the royal family in recent years.

She described their departure from royal duties in 2020 as a series of “bombshells” that have unleashed a torrent of criticism aimed at the monarchy and its members, including King Charles, Prince William, and other senior royals.

The implications of such a title can be profound, Levin warned, potentially affecting Lilibet's daily life in ways that her parents may not have fully considered.

The weight of the title could lead to scrutiny and challenges that come with being part of a family that has faced intense public scrutiny and internal strife.