Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan haven't been senior royals for almost six months. Harry in particular had to accept a lot for the Megxit. An insider reveals which agreement with the royal family struck him the most.
Prince Harry, 35, and Duchess Meghan, 39, appear happy in their new lives in Santa Barbara. But the Megxit was not an easy decision, as Prince Harry himself said before his retreat. One point of the agreement with Queen Elizabeth, 94, and his father Prince Charles, 71, hit him particularly hard: the abandonment of his military titles.
Prince Harry had to give up his military title
After Prince William's brother, 38, announced his retirement as Senior Royal, the Sussex 'announced on their sussexroyal website that a twelve-month review phase had been agreed with the palace regarding the new roles of Harry and Meghan. Although they are still allowed to carry the title "Her Royal Highness" ("His / Her Royal Highness"), the prince has to forego his military appointments.
"So the most demoralizing aspect of the new deal was that he was stripped of his military honorary degrees, which had been awarded to him as Senior Royal," says the book "Finding Freedom. Harry and Meghan and The Making of a Modern Royal Family".
He may still wear his medals, but the uniforms and his role as Captain General of the Marines (2017), Honorary Air Commandant of the Royal Air Force (2008) and Commodore-in-chief of Small Ships and Diving of the Royal Navy (2006) he had to take off.
Duchess Meghan angry about giving up the title
But this is not only the most painful agreement for Prince Harry – Duchess Meghan is also said to have suffered from it. A source told Royal writers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand:
"That was a pill that was hard to swallow, and the one that was the most painful for Meghan. Because she saw Harry go through it. It was the point that made Harry emotional."
For the former actress, this denial of the title is an aspect of the agreement that she cannot understand. She is said to have been stunned to friends. "That is so unnecessary! It not only takes away his titles, but also the entire community of military veterans. Why? Unfortunately, these forces are greater than me," the Duchess said in the book. Harry – no matter how happy he may be in his new life – will have to struggle with this for a long time to come.
Sources used: "Finding Freedom. Harry and Meghan and The Making of a Modern Royal Family," Marie Claire
This article originally appeared on Gala.de.