Latest news with #royaltitles
Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'feared' King Charles delayed their kids' passports over royal titles: report
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly "feared" that the lengthy delay in the issuance of U.K. passports for their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, was due to King Charles III's alleged opposition to the use of their royal titles. According to the Guardian, the couple considered changing their family's last name to Spencer due to their "sheer exasperation" over the unexplained months-long wait for the legal documents. Per the outlet, the 40-year-old Duke of Sussex had a face-to-face discussion with his uncle, Earl Charles Spencer, about the idea of taking his late mother Princess Diana's surname for his family. However, the idea of the prospective name change was dropped when the passports for Harry and Meghan's son Archie, 6, and daughter Lilibet, 4, arrived almost six months after their applications were first submitted. According to the Guardian, the standard waiting period for passports in the U.K. is three weeks. "There was clear reluctance to issue passports for the kids," a source close to the Sussexes told the outlet. According to a source that spoke with the Guardian, British officials were allegedly "dragging their feet because the passport applications included the titles HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) for both children." The source went on to claim that "the king hadn't wanted Archie and Lili to carry the titles, most of all the HRH, and the British passports, once created, would be the first and perhaps the only legal proof of their names." Fox News Digital has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment. A representative for Buckingham Palace told the Telegraph that they strongly deny that Charles or palace officials had any involvement in the delay regarding the passports for Archie and Lilibet. The spokesperson told the outlet, "No," when asked if the palace made any suggestion or raised any objection to the children's passports being issued with the HRH titles. Meanwhile, the source told the Guardian that "Harry was at a point where British passports for his children with their updated Sussex surnames (since the death of Queen Elizabeth II) were being blocked with a string of excuses over the course of five months." The source continued, "Out of sheer exasperation he went to his uncle to effectively say: 'My family are supposed to have the same name and they're stopping that from happening because the kids are legally HRH, so if push comes to shove, if this blows up and they won't let the kids be called Sussex, then can we use Spencer as a surname?'" Fox News Digital confirmed that Harry did have a meeting with Earl Spencer in which they discussed the name change. However, a source said that earlier reports that Earl Spencer told the Duke, "the legal hurdles were insurmountable," and his uncle "advised him against taking such a step" were "wholly inaccurate." A spokesperson for the duke told Fox News Digital, "We do not comment on private issues pertaining to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children." According to the Guardian, the Sussexes faced multiple delays while trying to obtain their children's passports. The outlet reported that the children's passports were finally issued shortly after the couple's lawyers sent a letter to the U.K.'s Home Office in which they threatened to submit a data subject access request. Per the Guardian, the request "could have revealed details of the delays – and the nature of any behind-the-scenes discussions between British officials responsible for issuing the documents." Earlier this week, People magazine reported that Archie and Lilbet have Mountbatten-Windsor listed as their last names on their birth certificates. However, the family now uses Sussex as their last name, just as Harry was known as "Harry Wales" during his childhood when his parents held the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales. It's a tradition within the royal family for children to take their parents' titles as a surname. Harry and Meghan no longer use their HRH titles since stepping down as working royals in January 2020. At the time, Buckingham Palace said in a statement, "The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family." However, the Sussexes announced in 2023 that their children would keep their HRH titles and the royal family's website updated their line of succession to include Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex, listed right after their father. "The children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace," a spokesperson for the Sussexes confirmed to Fox News Digital at the time. According to the Guardian, "Prince Harry wants to keep the HRH titles for his children so that when they grow older they can decide for themselves whether they want to become working royals, or stay out of public life."
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Count Nikolai and Felix receive special honour from King Frederik X of Denmark - two years after their grandmother stripped them of their royal titles
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's grandsons, Count Nikolai and Count Felix de Monpezat, have received a special honour since being stripped of their royal titles in 2023. King Frederik X, who succeeded his mother in January last year, awarded Nikolai, 25, and Felix, 22, the Grand Cross of the Order of Dannebrog at a private event before his birthday celebrations at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen yesterday. Taking to Instagram, the Danish Royal Family 's official account posted, 'At a private event before the family breakfast at Amalienborg, on the occasion of His Majesty the King's 57th birthday, the King yesterday awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Dannebrog to Their Excellencies Count Nikolai and Count Felix. 'As a result of the appointment, the counts - like other Danish recipients of the Grand Cross - must have prepared a personal knight shield. When finished, it will be hung in the Knight Chapel at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød.' In the post, a selection of photographs showed Frederik honouring his nephews, the sons of Prince Joachim and his first wife, Alexandra Countess of Frederiksborg, with the order. Nikolai later reposted the images with the writing, 'Very honoured to have received the order Storkorset af Dannebrog yesterday from my uncle on his birthday.' Nikolai and Felix were stripped of their royal titles by their paternal grandmother, Queen Margrethe, in a bombshell decision on January 1, 2023. Margrethe, 85, announced in September 2022 that the four children of her younger son, 55-year-old Prince Joachim, would no longer be able to use the title of prince and princess after January 1. She said the decision was intended to allow Nikolai, Felix, Henrik, 16, and Athena, 13, to live normal lives without royal obligations. Instead of being Princes and Princesses, they are Counts or Countess and referred to as Their Excellencies. On the Royal Family and Succession to The Throne pages of the website, the four royals, who have maintained their positions in the line of succession, are mentioned with their updated titles. It was a tumultuous time for the Danish Royal Family after the monarch stripped Joachim's four children of their prince and princess titles - a move which he publicly spoke out against. But speaking in a televised New Year's address, Margrethe admitted: 'That the relationship with Prince Joachim and (his wife) Princess Marie has run into difficulties hurts me. 'Difficulties and disagreements can arise in any family, including mine. The whole country has witnessed this.' She added that she was 'sure that the family can enter the New Year together with confidence, understanding and new courage'. Nikolai has since launched his own Instagram account to promote his modelling career - and has seldom been seen with his cousins and aunt since the announcement. In 2022, Prince Joachim publicly spoke out against his mother's decision in the days after she stripped his children of their titles- claiming that they had been 'harmed' in the process. Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne admitted that 'communication was missing' within the Royal Family in the lead-up to the shock announcement. Joachim told local news outlet B.T.: 'There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.' Shortly after Queen Margrethe's decision was announced, Joachim claimed that he had only been given five days' notice before the news was made public. In an interview with Danish publication Ekstra Bladet, Joachim said his four children had been 'hurt' by their grandmother's decision. 'I was given five days' notice to tell them,' he said, speaking outside the Danish embassy in Paris. 'In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen. Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January.' Meanwhile, his ex-wife Alexandra said that her sons, Nikolai and Felix, had been left feeling 'ostracised' from the institution and the decision had come like a 'bolt out of the blue'. In response, the Royal Household released a further statement, saying: 'As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming. 'We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.' Out of title: The four grandchildren who are no longer HRHs Nikolai of Denmark, 25: The Copenhagen Business School graduate and model regularly tops lists of the world's most eligible bachelors. He has jetted around the world to walk for designers in Paris and London. Nikolai has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. Felix of Denmark, 22: Following in his brother's footsteps, Felix has also had success as a model and has starred in an advertising campaign for Georg Jensen. He had a short stint at the Royal Danish Military Academy but quit after two months because it 'wasn't for him'. Henrik, 16, and Athena, 13, of Denmark: The youngest of Prince Joachim's four children, Henrik and Athena are the product of his second marriage to Princess Marie. However, the Royal Family appears to have put the drama behind them in recent times as they came together to celebrate Princess Isabella of Denmark's 18th birthday. Despite previous tensions, any feelings of resentment appeared long gone at the birthday party. With the birthday girl's glittering ballgown, award-worthy performances, and a guest list spanning one thousand young people, Isabella's 18th bash was one to remember. Denmark's royal family and it-girls arrived at the lavish Royal Theatre's Old Stage in Copenhagen to mark Queen Mary and King Frederik X's second child's coming of age in April. The official event saw the country's elite gather at the venue alongside one thousand of Denmark's young people, who secured tickets their tickets via a lottery, for a series of breathtaking performances by both established artists and emerging talents. It was the second official event held in honour of Isabella's birthday, with the first party held at Aarhus Hall on 11 April, which, according to Hello, cost a staggering £32,542, including security, catering, and entertainment, but not the cost of her £1,000 mystery birthday gift. The birthday girl arrived in style alongside her parents and siblings, Crown Prince Christian, 19, Princess Josephine, 14, and Prince Vincent, also 14, before taking to the red carpet and posing up a storm. While Danish royalty, including Queen Margrethe, assembled on the carpet in sparkling gowns, other invitees gathered on the theatre's steps to catch a glimpse at the star-studded arrivals. Once inside, guests wandered through chandelier-lit corridors before finding their place at the theatre in preparation for Their Majesties and Princess Isabella's entrance. Isabella's cousins, Count Nikolai and Count Felix of Monzepat, the sons of Prince Joachim, were in attendance, wearing velvet suit jackets with smart bow ties.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Public Outcry Grows Over Prince Harry & Meghan As New Poll Shows Massive Demand To Remove Royal Titles
Public frustration in the UK is growing over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's continued use of royal titles and requests for taxpayer-funded security. According to a new poll, most Brits seem to want Harry stripped of his title, citing his departure from royal duties and repeated criticisms of the monarchy. Meghan Markle has also faced backlash for using her HRH title privately, though insiders claim no rules were broken. Frustration is mounting among the British public, calling for Harry and Meghan to be stripped of their royal titles, with one local stating, "Enough is enough." Speaking to the New York Post, one frustrated British individual voiced their discontent, questioning why the public should pay for security for Harry, Meghan, and their children: "Why on Earth do we, the British public, need to foot the bill for this?" They added: "He chose to leave. Simple as. Want security? Should've stayed." A recent survey by the Express also revealed that a staggering 97% of the 4,500 respondents believed King Charles should revoke Harry's royal title. This sentiment was echoed by a previous poll from Find Out Now, which highlighted a sharp decline in support for the Sussexes in the UK. However, the public sentiment hasn't deterred Meghan from occasionally using her HRH title in private settings. Last month, the Duchess of Sussex was revealed to have used her title on a personal note attached to a gift basket shared by her friend Jamie Kern Lima. Sharp-eyed observers noticed a note that read, "With Compliments of HRH The Duchess of Sussex," which had been sent about a year ago. Meanwhile, sources close to Meghan clarified that the use of the HRH title was in a private, personal context and not intended for public exposure. They denied any violation of the Sussexes' agreement with the late Queen Elizabeth II, asserting that neither Harry nor Meghan uses their HRH titles in commercial or public contexts. The incident with Meghan's HRH title quickly made waves in Britain, with a royal insider revealing to the New York Post that the matter was even discussed behind closed palace doors. One former supporter of Harry and Meghan expressed disappointment, claiming that the couple has made every effort to embarrass the monarchy, especially during such a delicate time for Charles, who is battling cancer. He described their actions as "despicable," referring to their numerous high-profile, lucrative projects like Harry's controversial memoir, "Spare," their Netflix series "Harry & Meghan," and the explosive 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview. "It's constant attacks without any real consequences," he added. "The [late] queen would be horrified." Harry stirred fresh controversy last week after addressing his strained ties with the royal family during a BBC interview just hours after losing his legal fight to receive publicly funded security in the UK. The Duke of Sussex expressed deep disappointment over the court's decision, describing the outcome as the result of a "good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up." He referenced a troubling conspiracy theory, hinting that some influential figures might want him and his family to suffer a fate similar to that of his mother, Princess Diana, who tragically died in a Paris car crash in 1997. Harry didn't hold back during the interview, criticizing Charles for cutting off communication. He also reflected on his father's cancer battle, saying, "Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has; he won't speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile." During a recent episode of "Palace Confidential," royal commentators dissected Harry's explosive BBC interview, with several expressing concern over his tone and claims. The Daily Mail's Royal Editor, Rebecca English, characterized the interview as a "monumental hissy fit," pointing out how unsettling it was that Harry suggested there are individuals who wish him harm and might view his security loss as a personal victory. "Some aspects of it are really very disturbing," she remarked. "Where Harry goes from here, I don't know." Other royal experts, Charlotte Griffiths and Richard Eden, echoed similar sentiments, with host Jo Elvin noting that Harry came across as "beyond furious," a view Eden supported. "I am going to have to be careful with how I phrase this, but I thought he didn't look well in his expression, his demeanor," Eden continued. He also speculated that the interview appeared rushed, saying, "Often if you are angry about something, people say you should sleep on it, but this seemed to be something, and I think the BBC would confirm that it was done in a hurry."
