Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the decision to step down as senior working royals at the start of 2020.
This major decision, which resulted in their move to the US, led to a few privileges they once had being taken away – including many titles and patronages.
Although the pair lost a various patronages and titles held to their names after stepping down, they still hold a very unusual title – the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton.
The couple still clung on to these titles but lost their right to use their HRH titles.
The pair reportedly decided not to allow their young son, who was born in 2019, to take on the ‘Dumbarton’ title due to fears that he would be bullied.
The word ‘dumb’ is commonly used as a slang word in the US and where the family of four are now based it means “stupid” or “daft”.
A source previously told the Telegraph: “They didn’t like the idea of [Prince] Archie being called the Earl of Dumbarton because it began with the word ‘dumb’.
“They were worried about how that might look.”
Although it was previously thought that Meghan was the only one worried, another source said that it was also Harry that had concerns.
The source added: “It wasn’t just Meghan who pointed out the potential pitfalls, it also bothered Harry.”
As well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which was bestowed to the pair after their wedding, Meghan and Harry are also known as Baron and Baroness Kilkeel.
Their son – now aged five – is known as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Although it was previously reported that both Archie and his sister Lilibet were now going by the surname ‘Sussex’ instead.
