Harry and Meghan’s Demotion: What It Means for the Royal Family

The royal website has undergone a major change that has sparked rumours of new tensions within the royal family.

Harry and Meghan's profiles have been shifted down the page, so they now sit almost in line with Prince Andrew in what some are calling a major snub.

The page is assumed to be in order of importance, with King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort sitting at the top, followed by the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine.

Snub or not, the change has raised questions about Harry and Meghan's position within the royal family.

Though there hasn't been an official announcement about any change to their status, it's possible that King Charles is seeking a slimmed-down royal family, with an emphasis on working royals.

Demoting Harry and Meghan may be in line with his plans.

Royal writer Richard Eadon called the change a new snub for the couple as they're demoted on the royal website, to below the 56th in line to the throne on Twitter.

The Sussexes' demotion received mixed responses on social media.

Some users welcomed the change, while others felt it was unfair.

Some social media users even called for the couple to lose their royal titles.

This isn't personal, one user wrote, a distinction needs to be made who actually officially represents the monarchy.

There has been a lot of confusion when Harry and Meghan are listed prominently on the royal family's website.

Royal biographer Phil Dampier claimed that King Charles is likely to make it clear to them that they're not working royals and cannot have a semi-official role.

He said, Harry and Meghan must be worried that they're slowly being eased out of the royal picture.

King Charles seems to be hesitating on whether to grant prince and princess titles to Archie and Lilibet, and the fact that they've been demoted on the palace website is another indicator that they're not seen as working royals.

In his book, Courtiers, The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, royal author Valentin Lowe quotes a palace source saying that the late queen was of the view that the Sussexes either had to be completely real or not at all.

It was the queen who took the view that unless the couple were prepared to abide by the restrictions that applied to working members of the royal family, they could not be allowed to carry out official duties.

One source said, there was a very clear view, you can't be in and out.

If you've got such clarity of view, it's very difficult to say, why don't we go 10% this way instead of 20%?

Any form of compromise was off the table or removed by the queen.

Prior to the changes on the royal website, there was a report claiming that King Charles plans to exile his younger son.

The new monarch is reportedly planning to take the same action the previous royals did when King Edward VIII sparked several dramas.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Harry and Meghan within the royal family.

One thing is certain, however: the changes on the royal website are a clear indication that their status within the family has been downgraded.

Whether this is a temporary setback or a permanent demotion remains to be seen.

For now, the couple will have to adjust to their new position and find a way to continue their work outside of the royal sphere.