Prince Harry was stripped of his military titles in February 2021 after he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their senior royal roles. The decision was made by Queen Elizabeth II, Harry’s grandmother.
There are a few reasons why Harry may have been stripped of his military titles. One reason is that the military is a non-partisan institution, and members of the royal family are expected to remain politically neutral. Harry and Meghan have spoken publicly about their political views, which could be seen as a violation of this neutrality.
Another reason is that Harry and Meghan have decided to live in the United States. As non-working members of the royal family, they are no longer required to live in the UK. However, the UK is the head of state of the British military, and it is expected that members of the royal family who hold military titles will live in the UK.
Finally, Harry and Meghan have signed lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify. These deals could be seen as a conflict of interest, as the military is a public institution.
The decision to strip Harry of his military titles was a controversial one. Some people supported the decision, arguing that Harry was no longer fulfilling the duties of a member of the royal family. Others criticized the decision, arguing that it was unfair and that Harry should have been allowed to keep his military titles.
Here is a more detailed look at each of the reasons why Harry may have been stripped of his military titles:
Political neutrality
The British military is a non-partisan institution, and members of the royal family are expected to remain politically neutral. This means that they should not express their personal political views in public.
Harry and Meghan have spoken publicly about their political views on a number of occasions. For example, in 2020, Harry and Meghan encouraged Americans to vote in the US presidential election. This was seen by some as a violation of the royal family’s policy of political neutrality.
Residency
Harry and Meghan have decided to live in the United States. As non-working members of the royal family, they are no longer required to live in the UK. However, the UK is the head of state of the British military, and it is expected that members of the royal family who hold military titles will live in the UK.
Conflict of interest
Harry and Meghan have signed lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify. These deals could be seen as a conflict of interest, as the military is a public institution.
Some people argue that Harry should have been allowed to keep his military titles, even though he stepped back from his senior royal roles. They argue that Harry served in the military for 10 years, and that he is a role model for many people.
Others argue that the decision to strip Harry of his military titles was fair. They argue that Harry is no longer fulfilling the duties of a member of the royal family, and that he should not be allowed to use his military titles for personal gain.
Ultimately, the decision to strip Harry of his military titles was made by Queen Elizabeth II. She is the head of the British military, and she has the final say on who holds military titles.
