Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Told to 'Play the Windsor Game' or Ditch Their Royal Titles, Claims Expert

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing a blunt message from a royal commentator amid their U.K. comeback.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spent years speaking publicly about their experiences with the royal family, from their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey to their Netflix docuseries and Harry’s memoir, Spare. Now, as the couple reportedly prepares to spend more time in Britain, their connection to the monarchy is once again getting plenty of attention.

For The Telegraph reporter Camilla Tominey, the situation comes down to a pretty simple choice.

“Play the Windsor game or ditch the titles,” Tominey penned.

Tominey argued that Harry and Meghan’s decision to retain their royal titles while distancing themselves from the monarchy creates a complicated dynamic.

Harry received his Duke of Sussex title from the late Queen Elizabeth II on his wedding day. Tominey also pointed out that removing a royal title would require a formal act of Parliament.

Rather than simply calling for Harry and Meghan to give up their titles, however, the commentator questioned why they continue to use their royal status while criticizing the institution behind it.

“Why cling to these monarchical designations while publicly condemning everything the institution represents?” the reporter asked.

Tominey went on to argue that Harry and Meghan’s royal connection remains an important part of their public image.

“Returning directly to the epicentre of that distress indicates a calculated choice, confirming what most of us have been saying all along – that their royal identity remains their primary currency,” she suggested.

The conversation doesn't stop with Harry and Meghan. Their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, also remain connected to the monarchy through their royal titles.

Archie and Lilibet received their titles after King Charles III became king.

“Why name Lilibet after her great-grandmother and insist on styling her a princess if ‘The Firm' is so inherently evil that it almost drove Meghan to the brink of suicide?” Tominey asked.

She added, “If ‘unconsciously biased’ members of the royal family genuinely questioned Archie’s skin tone before he was even born, why eagerly claim the title of ‘prince’ for him?”

The couple’s reported plans for Archie and Lilibet to attend school in Britain could further strengthen their ties to the country.

Tominey also weighed in on what Harry and Meghan’s reported return to Britain could mean for their relationship with the royal family.

“Ultimately, they cannot fully disconnect from the House of Windsor without risking total irrelevance. Despite repeatedly insisting on privacy, they haven’t ever wanted to be anonymous. What they want is maximum exposure, provided it is all overwhelmingly positive. It’s all they’ve ever wanted – the good publicity but not the bad,” Tominey ranted.

The comments come as Harry and Meghan reportedly make Britain a bigger part of their family life. As previously reported by OK!, the couple arrived back in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, August 26, with Archie and Lilibet.

According to Page Six, Harry and Meghan chartered a private plane through Planet 9, a global private aviation company. Aviation estimates put the cost at around $12,000 per hour for the 10-hour flight.

Their reported return does not necessarily mean a return to royal duties. Instead, the couple appears to be maintaining their life in the U.S. while spending more time in Britain with their children.

Still, their continued use of royal titles remains a point of debate among royal watchers. For Tominey, the answer is clear.

“Drop the titles or drop the grievances,” she vented.