Harry touched down in Edinburgh for a travel industry event earlier today and stunned royal fans by asking to be introduced by his first name only, instead of being referred to as Prince Harry. The royal would usually be addressed as Sir or His Royal Highness. However, once he and Meghan Markle officially step down as senior royals at the end of March, he can no longer use the HRH style due to the agreement he reached with the Queen. After Harry and Meghan’s declaration of independence in January, it was reported that the Queen and Prince Charles even considered removing the couples’ titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Although the dukedom remains, the two were informed last week that they could not use the Sussex Royal brand when they are no longer working royals.

However, royal biographer Angela Levin reported how Harry preferred to use more “normal” titles over his royal ones during his days in the military.

Writing in her 2018 book ‘Harry: Conversations with the Prince’, she explained: “On April 16, 2011, it was announced that Harry had been promoted to captain.

“He was subsequently asked if he felt more comfortable being Captain Wales than Prince Harry.”

The royal replied: “Definitely. My father’s always trying to remind me about who I am and stuff like that.

“But it’s very easy to forget about who I am when I am in the Army.

“Everyone’s wearing the same uniform and doing the same kind of thing. I get on well with the lads and I enjoy my job. It really is as simple as that.”

Harry spent ten years in the Army, and undertook two Afghanistan tours during that time.

One of his greatest projects since leaving the military has been setting up the Invictus Games in 2014.

The international sporting event pushes injured or sick military personnel to take part in competitive sports. The next games are scheduled for May this year in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Harry’s commitment to the event reflects his lifelong love for the forces – even when he was a toddler he aspired to one day become a soldier.

He began his military training at Sandhurst in 2005, and was simply known as Officer Cadet Wales.

He soon became an armoured reconnaissance troop leader, and was responsible for 11 soldiers.

Harry then travelled to Afghanistan as a Forward Air Controller in 2007 and returned to the region in September 2012 for another operational tour, this time as an Apache Pilot.

Yet his decision to step back from the Royal Family has put his relationship with the Armed Forces under pressure. 

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After the famous Sandringham Summit where Harry’s new role was discussed earlier this year, Buckingham Palace released a statement explaining that the Sussexes “understand that they are required to step back from royal duties, which included “official military appointments”.

This means Harry will have to give up his various military roles and titles such as Captain General of Royal Marines and Honorary Air Force Commandant of the Royal Air Force Base, Honington.

He will still be able to wear his military medals because he is a retired serviceman, but Harry cannot wear his military uniform at public events like Trooping the Colour after March 31.

In a speech at a private event in January, Harry explained his own thoughts on leaving the Royal Family.

He said: “Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. 

“Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. I’ve accepted this, knowing that it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am.”

 The royal added: “I will continue to be the same man who holds his country dear and dedicates his life to supporting the causes, charities and military communities that are so important to me.”

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