Prince Harry’s life has undergone major changes in recent years. After stepping back from his royal duties with his wife Meghan Markle, the question arises – what will happen to Harry when his father Charles becomes king?
Will Harry remain a prince?
Yes, Harry will remain a prince when Charles takes the throne. As the son of the sovereign, Harry was born a prince and will retain that title. His children, Archie and Lilibet, will also remain prince and princess as grandchildren of the monarch.
When Charles becomes king, Harry will move up the line of succession and become fifth in line to the throne, behind his father, brother Prince William and William’s children George, Charlotte and Louis.
Will Harry have any royal duties?
No, it is unlikely Harry will take on any royal duties when Charles becomes king. When Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals in 2020, they agreed to no longer carry out duties on behalf of the Queen.
They now live in California and have developed careers independent of the royal family. Harry and Meghan are focused on their non-profit foundation Archewell and partnerships with organizations like Spotify and Netflix.
While Charles may offer Harry and Meghan some royal roles when he is king, this would likely be limited. The Sussexes are forging their own path and are unlikely to be working royals ever again.
Will Harry receive an allowance from Charles?
No, Harry is now financially independent from the royal family. When he stepped back as a senior royal, Harry stopped receiving money from the Sovereign Grant, the public funding that supports working royals.
Charles may have previously provided some private financial support to Harry and Meghan. However, this was cut off in 2020 as part of their separation agreement with the Queen.
Harry and Meghan are now making their own income through business deals, public speaking, book deals and more. They will not rely on any allowance from Charles once he is king.
Where will Harry live when Charles is king?
Harry will likely continue to be primarily based in California when Charles becomes king. After stepping back from royal life, Harry and Meghan moved to Los Angeles in 2020.
They have since settled in the exclusive Santa Barbara neighborhood of Montecito. The couple bought a $14 million mansion there and have established roots in the community.
California allows them more privacy to raise Archie and Lilibet away from the intense UK press scrutiny. Harry and Meghan are building their careers there with high profile media and business partnerships.
Harry may make more visits to the UK to see family when travel allows. But his main residence will remain in California even when Charles takes the throne.
Will Harry attend Charles’ coronation?
Yes, it is expected Harry will attend his father’s coronation at Westminster Abbey when Charles becomes king. As a member of the royal family, he would likely have a place at this historic ceremony.
However, Meghan’s attendance is less certain, given her strained relations with the royals. Archie and Lilibet may also stay home due to their young ages.
During the coronation, Harry would likely be seated with other non-working royals and minor members of the extended family.
It would provide an opportunity for Harry to reunite with relatives he has seen rarely since moving overseas. But tensions between the Sussexes and the family will likely still be evident.
How will Harry be treated by the royal family?
It remains to be seen if family relations will improve when Charles takes the throne. Currently Harry and Meghan have a strained relationship with his brother William and father Charles.
Royal experts believe Charles may use his reign as a chance to mend bonds with his younger son. As king, Charles will want to present a united front and bring Harry back into the fold to some degree.
But the hurt and mistrust caused by Harry and Meghan’s damaging allegations against the family will be hard to overcome. Full reconciliation looks unlikely in the near future.
The royal family is also still coming to terms with Harry and Meghan’s independent life in America. Harry’s status within the royal circle has fundamentally shifted.
What royal perks and privileges will Harry retain?
As a prince by birth, Harry will keep certain royal privileges when Charles is king. This includes:
- His HRH (His Royal Highness) title
- Personal security funded by the UK government
- Invitation to major royal events like state weddings, funerals, coronations
- Place in the line of succession
However, Harry has lost other royal advantages like:
- Public funding through the Sovereign Grant
- Income from the Duchy of Cornwall estate
- Official royal patronages
- Diplomatic immunity in the UK
He and Meghan have repaid the £2.4 million of taxpayer money used to refurbish their UK home Frogmore Cottage, which they still retain.
Will Harry’s children have royal titles?
When Charles becomes king, Harry’s children Archie and Lilibet will technically become a prince and princess. This is because they will be grandchildren of the sovereign.
However, it is uncertain if Harry and Meghan will actually accept royal titles for their children. They previously declined a title for Archie citing a desire for privacy and normal life.
As Archie and Lilibet are currently seventh and eighth in line for the throne, they may follow suit in using only their first names. But the option for royal titles will be there.
Can Harry ever be king?
No, there is virtually no chance Harry could become king now that he has stepped down. For Harry to take the throne, his father Charles, brother William and William’s three children would all have to die or otherwise be removed.
This extremely unlikely scenario would only happen if an unprecedented tragedy struck the royal family. Barring that, Harry will never reign as king.
Harry’s place in the line of succession does mean Archie could theoretically be king someday. But that is highly improbable given how many people currently stand between Archie and the crown.
How does Harry’s military status change when Charles is king?
Harry lost his honorary military titles and royal patronages when he stepped away from royal life. This included positions like Captain General of the Royal Marines.
When Charles takes the throne, he will become head of the armed forces and appoint new people to these honorary posts. Harry will not regain any military titles.
However, Harry did two tours in Afghanistan with the Army. He achieved the rank of captain and has lifetime service medals he earned on merit. These honours cannot be taken away.
Will Charles be able to resolve issues between William and Harry?
As king, Charles will be well-placed to help improve relations between Harry and William. The brothers were once incredibly close but are now estranged.
Royal experts say Charles does want his sons to reconcile. However, some of the damage done may be irreparable at this point.
William was deeply hurt by Harry’s statements about feeling trapped in the monarchy. He also did not appreciate Harry airing private family matters in public.
But if both brothers are willing, Charles will likely facilitate discussions and try to find common ground. The death of their grandmother Queen Elizabeth II also reminded Harry and William of their shared grief.
It will be up to William’s and Harry’s own willingness to rebuild trust that determines if they can properly reconcile.
Conclusion
While Prince Harry has stepped back from royal duties, his life will still undergo major changes when his father takes the throne. Harry will retain his HRH status and princely title but take on no working royal role.
He is establishing an independent life overseas with Meghan and their children. Harry is unlikely to ever be a working royal again or receive royal funding. However, he will keep certain privileges like his place in the line of succession.
With Charles as king, there is potential for healing some of the current royal rifts. But Harry’s relationships with his father and brother may never fully recover from the recent damage done. Both sides will need to make an effort for reconciliation.
Harry’s life will have less involvement with the royal family moving forward. But as the son and brother of the monarch, he will still have a place within the institution. Harry stepping back has led to a complex new royal role that continues to evolve.