Harry and Meghan Get Called Out for Showing ‘No Interest in Sussex’: ‘They Rarely Visited…’
Whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should continue using their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) status has been debated since they left the U.K. Even though they were stripped of their royal titles, they revived and continued to use them, but allegedly not in commercial or public settings. However, a former Sussex MP has raised his voice against the couple using their titles, claiming that they are ‘least’ interested in the county. His emotion was echoed by many when the Duke and Duchess missed wishing the county’s residents last week (June 16) on Sussex Day.
Sussex Day is observed on June 16 of every year to celebrate the county’s heritage and culture, as it was once a kingdom. Talking to the Daily Mail, former Sussex MP Tim Loughton called out the Sussexes and said, “Yet again the interest of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the county from which they continue to use their title has been underwhelming to say the least.” He urged for a more present Duke for the county and said, “It is time we had a Duke of Sussex who has a genuine interest in our County, and wishing Sussex residents a happy Sussex Day is hardly a tall order.”
Loughton also claimed that Harry and Markle rarely visited the county even when they were working senior royals. He claimed, “They rarely visited Sussex even before they abandoned the U.K. for California, and on our County Day, they have again shown no interest in Sussex.” Harry and Markle were gifted the titles, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, by the late Queen Elizabeth upon their wedding. Harry is the second-ever Duke of Sussex after the title was first conferred upon Prince Augustus Frederick, the sixth son of King George III. Moreover, Markle is the first Duchess of Sussex in history.
The only time the couple visited Sussex was in 2018, and it reportedly lasted only six hours. Sussex residents gave the newlyweds a warm welcome on the streets of Chichester, Bognor Regis, Brighton, and Peacehaven during their visit, which was packed with several engagements. Despite many being against the couple’s usage of their HRH titles, experts have often claimed that King Charles would not strip them of them. According to the Mirror, Royal expert Ingrid Seward told The Royal Beat, “I don’t think anything will happen to the titles because, if they lose their titles, Harry is still a prince of the blood and Meghan instead of being the Duchess of Sussex, [would] be Princess Henry. That really would [confuse the Americans]. I think [it’s] probably best just to leave it because it looks unkind, it looks unnecessary.” Markle would be called Princess Henry as Harry’s real name is Henry Charles Albert David, and per the royal tradition, a princess takes a title with her husband’s original name.
Harry, Markle, and their two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, now go by Sussex. The former actress confirmed the same while talking to Mindy Kaling on her new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan. She said, “It's so funny you keep saying Meghan Markle, you know I'm Sussex now.” Despite the criticism surrounding the title, the 43-year-old said she was grateful to be sharing the same name - Sussex - with her children.