Prince Harry and The British Throne: What's The Deal?
Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back from their royal duties in 2020, there have been many questions surrounding their future. Currently, Prince Harry resides in the U.S. and has plans to eventually seek full citizenship. Nevertheless, he remains a member of the royal family and technically retains his right to the throne. However, the U.K. parliament could potentially have a different opinion.
On the other hand, Harry shows no interest in the royal throne. He’s often regarded as “Plan B” in the line of succession. His family sometimes referred to him as a “spare,” a term that’s considered quite inappropriate.
Despite stepping back from royal duties, there has been no talk of stripping Harry of his titles. This is primarily because it’s something the royal family cannot do even if they wished to.
The Line of Succession
Currently, Prince Harry is #5 in the line of succession to the British throne. According to the official Royal Family website, he follows his brother, Prince William, and William's children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Interestingly, the line of succession extends beyond Harry to include his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. While it’s possible that Harry could one day have a chance to ascend to the throne, it is highly unlikely.
In examining the line of succession, a significant number of people would need to either die, step down, or abdicate for Harry to ascend to the throne. King Charles, although regarded as old, still presides as the King of the UK with no intentions of stepping down. Following King Charles, Prince William and all of his children would also need to step down or abdicate. Frankly, Harry has no desire for the throne and would not be happy to ascend at the cost of other family members, even if relationships are strained.
According to constitutional expert Professor Robert Hazell, if both Harry’s father and brother were “permanently incapacitated” while William’s children were still underage, Harry could potentially become a king regent. However, new legislation would need to be passed by the palace or government to prevent this. For this to materialize, Harry would need to return to the U.K., something he seems reluctant to do.
Does Harry Even Want to be King?
In short, Harry has never shown an interest in being king. This lack of interest could even explain some of his wilder behavior in his younger years, such as the infamous Vegas incident.
Harry was never the “next in line” in a figurative sense and showed disinterest in the throne from the start. As more of his nieces and nephews were born, pushing him further down the line of succession, Harry felt relieved, knowing he could lead a life relatively free from royal obligations.
Harry believed it was better to stay as far away from the royal chaos as possible. Interestingly, Harry is not alone in this sentiment. In an interview with Newsweek, he mentioned that nobody in the Royal Family is genuinely eager to ascend to the throne.