Harry and Meghan get to keep their royal titles

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are still the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, following a failed petition to strip them of the titles.

Residents of Sussex county started a petition earlier this year in a bid to strip the royals of their titles, which tie them to the county, and received more than 3,800 signatures.

Anti-monarchist campaigner Charles Ross, who kicked off the petition, claimed that the decision to give Harry and Meghan the titles was a "symbol of oppression by the wealthy elite" and "morally wrong".

However, the petition, which received more support than Ross expected, was shot down at a council meeting last night as not being a proper use of council time and resources.

"I am aware that there are passionately held views on either side of the argument about the monarchy which are legitimate," council leader Nancy Platts said at a full council meeting on Friday.

"However, that is not a matter for local authorities and we obviously do not have the power to remove titles. That is a matter for the Crown."

She went on to say that while she "respects" the views held by people both for and against the petition, arguing about Harry and Meghan's titles simply wasn't "proper use of council time and resources.

"The council has a number of pressing issues it has to prioritise, such as homelessness, climate change, the effects of austerity, ensuring the economic and social wellbeing of the city's residents," she said, before moving on.

Harry and Meghan were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex after their wedding in 2018, as it is customary for royal men and their wives to receive a title on their wedding day.

The prince also holds Scottish and Northern Irish titles as the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel, both of which also pass to Meghan, making her the duchess of each.