Prince Harry’s many titles and which ones could he lose?

Few royal figures spark as much global curiosity as Prince Harry, whose life and titles have evolved alongside his public role and personal journey.

While the concept of royal titles may appear steeped in tradition, the story of Prince Harry’s various titles reflects both longstanding customs and contemporary shifts within the monarchy. Over the course of 40 years, Harry has held a number of titles. But could some of them disappear if the current controversies around him continue?

The Birth of a Prince: Initial Titles

Prince Henry Charles Albert David was born on 15 September 1984 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. He was the second son of Charles, now king, and Diana, Princess of Wales. He was third in line to the throne at the time of his birth.

From birth, he became His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales. The use of “Prince” and “of Wales” signified both his position within the royal family and his connection to his father’s principal title.

• His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales: This title follows the tradition set for sons of the Prince of Wales. It identifies his position as a prince and his direct descent from the heir apparent to the throne.
• Prince Harry: Though his official name is Henry, he became widely known to the public and media as Harry, a common diminutive for Henry in British culture. His parents said they wanted him known as Harry from the very beginning.

Prince Harry was known as just that until 2018 when he got married and a new set of titles was added to his collection.

Titles given on the day of his wedding

Royal custom dictates that male members of the royal family are granted peerage titles when they marry. There was every expectation that Prince Harry would be made a duke. On 19 May 2018, upon his marriage to Meghan Markle, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon Prince Harry a set of new peerages.

Harry, at that point sixth in line to the throne, was made Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.

Following the grant of these peerages, Harry’s full title became His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. His wife, Meghan Markle, became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel.

History of Harry’s ducal title

The dukedom of Sussex was revived for Harry—the last Duke of Sussex, Prince Augustus Frederick, was created in 1801 and died without legitimate heirs in 1843. As a dukedom, Sussex is the highest rank among the titles Harry received.

In Scotland, Harry was named Earl of Dumbarton, a title originally created in 1675 for Lord George Douglas. This title allows him honorary association with Scottish heritage and tradition.

In Northern Ireland, he was made Baron Kilkeel, a newly created title for Harry, referencing a coastal town in County Down. This title reflects the modern practice of granting a Northern Irish barony to royal family members.

All change in a very public way

In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan announced they would step back from their roles as senior working members of the Royal Family. As a result, the couple agreed not to use the style “His/Her Royal Highness” any more.

However, Duke of Sussex remains Harry’s primary title and is used in official contexts. However, he is often styled as “Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex” in his own communications.

Harry remains Earl of Dumbarton & Baron Kilkeel. These are subsidiary titles and are rarely used publicly, but remain part of his official style.

However, HRH is no longer used, after an agreement made with Buckingham Palace. There was controversy in 2025 when a friend of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex showed a personal card sent by the duchess which used the HRH.

Harry’s children

Harry’s children, Archie and Lilibet, are entitled to use the titles “Prince” and “Princess” following the accession of King Charles III, as grandchildren of the Monarch. This is line with Letters Patent issued by King George V in 1917 which stated that the grandchildren of a monarch in the male line may be HRH and Prince or Princess.

There was some debate after the accession of King Charles III over whether this would happen and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex only announced that their children would use the title of Prince and Princess on March 8 2023, exactly six months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III.

The future of Harry’s titles

Throughout the world, Prince Harry is typically referred to as “Prince Harry”, “Duke of Sussex”, or, more recently, simply “Harry”. His titles are recognised formally in the UK and Commonwealth realms, though everyday usage varies depending on context and audience.

There has been debate about whether he could lose his titles after stepping back from the Royal Family and criticising them harshly in a number of interviews and publications.

King Charles could issue Letters Patent depriving his son of his HRH status. However, the dukedom can only be removed by Parliament.