'Disappointing & Hurtful': Locals Are Upset That Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Turned Down 'Earl Of Dumbarton' Title For Archie
A member of the Scottish Parliament encouraged Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to rethink their decision, stating that representing their town is an 'honor.'
Residents of Dumbarton, Scotland, aren't pleased over the reports that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided against giving their son Archie the royal title Earl of Dumbarton.
A source told The Telegraph the pair "didn’t like the idea of Archie being called the Earl of Dumbarton because it began with the word 'dumb' and they were worried about how that might look."
A second insider added, "It wasn’t just Meghan who pointed out the potential pitfalls, it also bothered Harry."
Dumbarton local Sophie Clifford called the snub "disappointing and hurtful."
"Not giving Archie the title is going to alienate them even more from Scotland," fellow local Ann Proudfoot told The Sun. "It’s an offense to everybody living here."
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Even Jackie Baillie, a member of the Scottish Parliament, was upset over the claims.
"Dumbarton is a wonderful place and the people of Dumbarton have always prided ourselves on being open and accepting," she stated. "We welcome with open arms anyone who wishes to be associated with or call Dumbarton their home."
"If the rumors about Harry and Meghan are true, then I would encourage them to rethink their decision," she added. "I think there is no greater honor than being named after the town."
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Harry and Meghan claimed that the royal family didn't want to give Archie the title of "Prince." However, when Archie's grandfather Prince Charles takes the throne, he'll automatically be eligible to receive that title. The same goes for the couple's newborn daughter Lilibet.
"As the grandchildren of the Sovereign, they have the right to be upgraded to the style of His or Her Royal Highness," editor Joe Little told PEOPLE. "But that begs a question of whether Harry and Meghan want that."
Little then asked, "Do they prefer what [Prince] Edward and Sophie have, and not have their children as Their Royal Highnesses with a view to them leading relatively normal lives?"
