PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle would have to renounce their royal titles if they moved to South Africa, a royal expert has claimed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have repeatedly said they would like to live abroad – and have picked out the African country as an ideal spot.
But royal correspondent Victoria Arbiter told a New Zealand talk show Breakfast that if they left the UK, the pair would have to “renounce royal privileges”.
On the possible issues of such a move, British and South African taxpayers would possibly have to fund their security and the “favouritism” of one Commonwealth nation could be unhelpful.
She said: “Thats just not going to be OK unless, of course, they renounce all of their royal privileges, their royal titles, everything to do with their life as a member of the royal family. I dont see that happening, either.
“In the documentary, Meghan, 38, talks about the grass always being greener, but there are logistics that come into play when youre a member of the royal family.
“Some of them are a little bit more obvious. So they move to South Africa, so who pays for their security there?
“Yes, theyre both independently wealthy and they could support themselves there. But is the South African taxpayer suddenly paying for their security, or is the British taxpayer paying for that? Neither party are going to be particularly happy.”
It comes after Prince Harry revealed in an hour-long ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey the pair have struggled with the fame that comes with the job.
He said: Ever since I came to this continent as a young boy, trying to cope with something I can never possibly describe, Africa has held me in an embrace that I will never forget.
AFRICA FOCUSED
The 35-year-old added: “The rest of our lives, especially our live’s work, will be predominantly focused on Africa.”
It is thought the Prince is searching for a dream home for Meghan Markle and baby Archie in Africa.
He said in the explosive documentary: “I don’t know where we could live in Africa at the moment. We’ve just come from Cape Town.
“That would be an amazing place for us to able to base ourselves.”
Harry also loves Botswana – a passion which started when he visited the country shortly after his mum’s death in 1997.
He previously said of the nation: “This is where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world.”
During his interview with host Tom Bradby,Prince Harrysaid he hasgrown apart from brother William, and Meghan admitted she isstruggling to cope as a new mum in the spotlight.
In the documentary, Meghan said that keeping quiet and having a “stiff upper lip” about the scrutiny she faces is “damaging”.
A royal who abdicated and stepped down as king in 1936 was Edward VIII, the Queen’s uncle.
He left his post on the throne to marry Wallis Simpson – a divorcee – and the pair became Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
He made an announcement through the BBC sayinghe could not do the job of the king without the help and support of the woman I love.
