Piers Morgan says Meghan Markle and Prince Harry must hand back Duke and Duchess titles as they ‘despise’ royal family

PIERS Morgan has said Meghan Markle and Prince Harry should hand back their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles as they "despise" the royal family.

The Good Morning Britain host lashed out at Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, on his first stint back on the ITV show after a ten-day break.

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The Duke and Duchess's Megxit was confirmed last week as they officially stepped down as working royals and were stripped of their royal patronages and military titles.

The couple's departure was a hot topic of debate in the GMB studio as Piers and Susanna Reid returned today.

Piers said: "We will be debating today the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - should they no longer be called that, given how much they despise the Royal Family and everything it stands for.

"Apart from the wonderful ability it gives them with those titles to rake in millions of pounds in California."

'DESPISE'

Susanna replied: "Or is that something which is within the gift of The Queen, and should be left up to her?"

But Piers hit back: "Yeah, but you can give it up yourself, though, couldn't you?

"You could just renounce your own title, say, "We don't need the royal titles, we don't even like the royal family or the monarchy.

"So, hand them back, it would be my view. You may disagree. We are going to be debating that."

In a furious debate over Harry and Meghan later in the show, Piers was branded a "petty, fragile man baby".

The Sussexes were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey last week — shortly before being stripped of their royal roles.

The chat will be screened on CBS on March 7, but is not known how British viewers can tune in.

The Duke and Duchess had been keen to keep their patronages before last week's annoncement, especially Harry’s military titles and role as Captain General of the Marines.

But the Queen feared they could be used to promote commercial deals.

Piers took aim at the couple's "two days of gut spilling" with Oprah as he and Susanna spoke to former BBC presenter John Humphrys, The Mirror's Kevin Maguire and the Daily Mail's Andrew Pierce about the royal row.

He said: "They are making gazillions off their royal titles, so the question remains this: 'Should they be able to continue trading as celebrities off being the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, titles gifted to them by marriage by the Queen?' "

John accused Harry and Meghan of speaking "garbage" and accused them of being "sanctimonious".

Piers replied: "It's normally laced with utter hypocrisy. For example, "saying I want you all to look after every carbon footprint that you tread", says Prince Harry.

"Literally days later he is using Elton John's private jet like a taxi service."

But Susanna said the media was "obsessed with Harry and Meghan" before Piers attacked the couple for hiring a "fancy" photographer who snapped them for a picture used to announce Meghan's pregnancy.

He added: "If you are making $100 million from Netflix, who by the way have just invaded your own family'słife in Harry's case more than anyone in history with The Crown.

"And you take 100 million bucks from the company that has just trashed your own family and then claim to be the prince of privacy - do me a favour."

John also took issue with a photograph the couple released for Remembrance Sunday as they paid tribute to the fallen.

He asked: "Shouldn't they, shouldn't Harry in particular, have done that in private?"

Susanna defended Harry and Meghan and told the panel "you are so critical of them, I don't think there's any problem in having boundaries."

Piers also accused Harry of "snapping back at the Queen" following last week's statement from the couple on service being universal.

He said: "The gall of it. Also and I think more offensively, on Tuesday, Oprah Winfrey flew in to their California home for two days of gutspilling about the royals with Meghan and Harry.

"On Tuesday, we knew that Prince Philip, his grandfather, had been taken to hospital.

"The idea that Prince Harry's reaction would be to them sit down with the biggest talk show star in the world with his wife and spew, presumably, I think he is going to include some critical stuff about the royals as Prince Philip is lying in hospital...

"I'm sorry - but we are allowed to say, given they are still the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and making bazillions .

"We are entitled to go, 'Sorry, that's not on."

The GMB hosts later held a debate on whether Harry should surrender the right to the throne.