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During an interview with Express.co.uk Republic CEO Graham Smith criticised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for exploiting their Royal Family titles despite stepping down from the monarchy in March 2020. Republic is an organisation that campaigns for the abolishment of the monarchy and for Queen Elizabeth II to be replaced by a democratic, elected head of state. 

Mr Smith said: “I would not suggest that anybody follows their example because they are trying to have it both ways.

“They are trying to exploit their status and titles for their own personal gain as far as I can see.

“They need to make a decision, break away from the Royal Family completely or don’t and stay with the Royal Family.

“The royals should separate themselves from the taxpayer, we don’t owe any of them a living.

“So I think they need to follow the example led by most ordinary hard-working people in this country and pay their own way through life.”

The Republic CEO claimed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are still using their Royal Family titles and status to “cash in” on lucrative deals.

Mr Smith said: “The fact that they have got this deal, I can’t imagine why Netflix thinks it’s a good idea, but good for them if that’s what they are doing.

“The problem is that they haven’t made a clean break, they still want to cash in on their status and on their titles as Duke and Duchess.”

He added: “Ultimately when they walked away from the Royal Family at the beginning of the year, they should have said we are going to be private citizens.

“We are going to work for our own money whether that is in media, film, charity work and we will no longer be the Duke and Duchess or royals and we are just going to go alone.

“But they are trying to have it both ways, part of this deal is cashing in on their status and titles.

“That is not really appropriate.”

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have stated their partnership with Netflix will allow them to shine a light on important causes around the world.

In a statement, the couple said: “Our lives, both independent of each other and as a couple, have allowed us to understand the power of the human spirit: of courage, resilience, and the need for connection.

“Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shining a light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope.

“As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us, as is powerful storytelling through a truthful and relatable lens.”

In light of Mr Smith’s anti-monarchy aims, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk the majority of people in the UK want the monarchy to remain the way it is.

He said: “While there have always been some, the percentage of the population that wants to see the end of the monarchy has always been pretty small.

“It still remains small, they are a very small minority of people.”

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