Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Will Reportedly Retain Their Titles after Their Official Exit

With their last official day as senior working members of the royal family, new details reveal that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will retain their royal titles, but no longer use “His/Her Royal Highness.”

On Monday, a spokesperson for the couple released a statement through Buckingham Palace that elaborated on the agreement reached between the Sussex’s and Queen Elizabeth back in January.

THEIRS TO KEEP BUT NOT TO USE

Reiterating, the statement reportedly said that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would remain a part of the royal family in name and title, even though they may no longer use it in an official capacity after March 31.

The unprecedented move also brings into question how royal protocol will change for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Similarly, Meghan and Prince Harry’s official royal website and the Instagram account will become inactive as of April 1, but both will remain online “for the foreseeable future.”

On March 31, Meghan and Prince Harry posted their last message on their official royal Instagram account to thank all the followers for their support.

“We look forward to reconnecting with you soon. You’ve been great! Until then, please take good care of yourselves, and of one another,” the couple shared as part of a lengthy post.

WILL THEY CHOOSE ANOTHER SURNAME?

Prince Harry will remain sixth in line to the throne, and the couple will continue to be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, or by any of their other titles that include the Baron and Baroness Kilkeel, or the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton.

However, since they will no longer be able to use their official HRH titles as from April 1, the couple might use another last name, or names, since they technically won’t have surnames anymore.

While Prince Harry might choose to go by Wales, the name he used during his time in the Army, Meghan could decide to revert to her maiden name of Markle.

Alternately, the couple could continue using Sussex or go with the royal family’s official surname - Mountbatten-Windsor.

WHO WILL MEGHAN HAVE TO CURTSY NOW?

The unprecedented move also brings into question how royal protocol will change for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following their exit, like protocol pertaining to the order of curtsy.

According to Myka Meier, an etiquette expert, the agreements reached on the royal couple’s exit somewhat blurs the rules about curtsy, as she told PEOPLE:

“Now that they are keeping their HRH titles but not using them, the order of curtsy would stay the same since Meghan married into the family.”

Since marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan took on his royal rank and, therefore, only need to curtsy members of the royal family who outrank her. Currently, they are Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

With their lives as senior working members of the royal family officially in the rear-view as from tomorrow, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly set their primary focus on being a family with their 10-month-old son Archie.

The trio recently moved to Los Angeles, and while the Sussex’s are working on projects, including their non-profit, they will continue to support their patronages in the UK as well.