Most Brits think Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should be stripped of their titles, according to new research.
Interviews conducted by Deltapoll shortly after the infamous Oprah Winfrey interview show 58 per cent of people think they should have their official titles removed, compared to 23 per cent who believe they should remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Meanwhile a significant majority want Prince William to be named King when the Queen’s reign ends.
The Duke of Cambridge has a 20-point lead – 47 per cent to 27 per cent – over his father Prince Charles in a huge blow to the heir’s popularity despite great strides to improve his public image over the past two decades.
But younger respondents aged 18 to 24 years old actually want Prince Harry as king over his dad and brother, highlighting a stark age divide.
In related news, ‘silenced’ Piers Morgan said he has received messages on behalf of the royal family thanking him for “standing up” to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Morgan has emerged as one of the couple’s biggest critics and left his job at Good Morning Britain last month after saying he did not believe what Meghan told Oprah Winfrey in her bombshell interview.
She made incendiary accusations against Buckingham Palace.
Morgan has since said ITV bosses told him to apologise or quit.
Morgan appeared on US TV show Extra to discuss the continued fallout from his criticism of Meghan and told host Billy Bush he has the backing of some members of the royal family.
“I’ve had some messages communicated to me on behalf of several members of the royal family,” the 56-year-old said.
Asked by Bush if the backing came from “upper level people,” Morgan replied: “I’m not going to go into who it was. But what I would say is, gratitude that somebody was standing up.”
Former tabloid editor Morgan said he did not believe Meghan after she told Winfrey she was ignored after raising her mental health problems with figures at the palace.
The duchess also said there had been racist comments about son Archie’s skin tone before he was born.
Speaking on Extra, Morgan said his only regret from the controversy was briefly walking off the set of Good Morning Britain following a clash with weatherman Alex Beresford.
Morgan stressed he returned to the programme that morning. And he dismissed claims his stance on Meghan and Harry is racist.
“I’m not a racist,” he said. “Nothing I’ve ever said about Meghan Markle is either racist or racially motivated. I’ve been very critical of Prince Harry and last time I checked he was white and so I find this narrative deeply offensive.”
Bush, who is the cousin of former US president George W Bush, asked what Morgan would say to Meghan if given the chance.
He said he would ask for an interview similar to the one she and Harry gave to Winfrey.
Morgan said: “I would say to Meghan Markle, ‘Look, sit down with me, with your husband for an equally long interview and let me ask you more difficult questions about all your claims.
“But let me ask you a wider question, which is this; if you hate the royal family that much, why do you keep your royal titles? Why do you keep calling yourselves the duke and duchess of Sussex? Why would you do that if it’s just not to make millions and millions of dollars? And playing the victim as you do is frankly nauseating.”
In a separate interview on US TV on Monday, Morgan told prominent conservative news personality Tucker Carlson that Meghan was a “delusional duchess who is on the make”.
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