Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly set an example for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to follow. Former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker believes the York sisters should give up their HRH titles if they pursue private careers. His comments come as the debate over royal titles, commercial activities, and taxpayer-funded security continues.
Ex-Prince Andrew’s daughter face calls to give up using their HRH titles like Meghan and Harry
Speaking exclusively to GB News, Norman Baker defended Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s decision to step back from royal duties in 2020. He argued that people born into the Royal Family should have the freedom to leave and build independent careers.
“Being a member of the Royal Family is not something you choose; you’re born into it, and you must have the right to, in inverted commas, resign and then do something else,” Baker said.
However, the former minister questioned why Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie continue to retain their HRH styles while pursuing private-sector work.
“The reality is that Beatrice and Eugenie still retain their HRH titles, and really, if they want to go and work in the private sector or do their own thing, that for me is fine – as Harry and Meghan have done,” he claimed.
He added that the sisters should not maintain connections to both the working Royal Family and private enterprise. According to Baker, non-working royals should not retain HRH titles.
Meanwhile, Robert Hazell, Emeritus Professor of Government and the Constitution at University College London, explained that royal styles can be withdrawn through Letters Patent. He cited Princess Diana’s loss of her HRH style in 1996 as an example.
Baker also called for independent, case-by-case assessments of royal security. He argued that taxpayer-funded protection should depend on individual threats rather than royal status alone.
Round-the-clock police protection for Beatrice and Eugenie ended in 2011 following a review by Ravec.
