The Queen may be the monarch of the United Kingdom, but she is also a mother and grandmother. In many ways, she struggles at times to make the best decisions for the monarchy when it comes to her children and grandchildren—however, it’s time for the Queen to act and officially sever the public relationship between the monarchy and Prince Harry, his wife Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew.

The last two years have been incredibly difficult for Her Majesty and the royal family. She’s lost her husband and partner of 73 years, Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh, and her health struggles, but probably the biggest challenges are the fallout of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s increasingly antagonistic public relations campaign against the royal family and Prince Andrews growing legal problems.

Both are tarnishing the Queen’s exemplarily legacy. That’s why it’s time for Prince Charles and Prince William to act and officially distance these negative elements from the monarchy if she wants it to survive her passing.

When it comes to Harry and Meghan, well mostly Meghan, it’s clear that their/her only interest in their titles and connection to the royal family is how they/her can exploit it to make them as much money as possible and to help along her political ambitions.

This is incredibly dangerous territory. 

Though they are no longer working royals, Meghan Markle uses her title constantly in any public statements and now to lobby U.S. Senators to vote her way on a massive spending bill, something that hasn’t really happened since 1776. It’s a massive breach of protocol and of royal tradition, which has always been about maintaining neutrality. Add in that she’s doing it in a democratic country that violently overthrew King George III’s rule, her actions look more and more egregious. 

It’s time to strip the couple of their titles and remove them and their children from the line of succession. 

No doubt the royal family is playing the long game and hoping that Harry finally leaves Meghan after several years of narcissistic abuse, but there’s no telling when that will come and it’s doubtful he’ll ever fully recover the previously popularity he once had with the British people. But having Meghan Markle that close to the throne through her husband and children is dangerous. A couple of centuries ago, she would likely gleefully try to find a way and “remove” her and Harry’s competition for the crown. She’s dangerous, and she brings him and the family into disrepute. 

The easiest way forward is to just remove her and her children to stabilize the line of succession.

In addition to Harry, Meghan and their children, Prince Andrew also must be relieved of his title and removed from the line of succession. His damning relationship and defense of convicted pedophile Jeffery Epstein is deplorable, and his ongoing lawsuit with a woman who has accused him of sexual assault is a horrific reflection on the monarchy.

To top it all off, the civil trial will occur during the Queen’s platinum year. This will linger as a dark shadow over her reign if she doesn’t do what must be done.

Andrew must be stripped of his title, honors and his role in the line of succession, and no public funds should go towards his mounting legal fees. There’s no way back for him, though he did try admirably at his father’s funeral.

Since the monarchy is short staffed, as it were, they should rely more on Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, if they’re willing. The York sisters would no doubt be excellent additions to the working royal roaster, and give the Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Wessex some much needed help. 

If she doesn’t deal with the situation, she runs the risk of irreparably damaging her legacy, especially so close to the end of her reign. It’s also a sign to the rest of the world that royal family members are not above criticism or being stripped of their titles as the situation calls for it.

Unfortunately, she probably won’t. She’s a mother and grandmother, and oftentimes finds it difficult to act when it comes to family. That’s something we all struggle with, but she’s not just a grandmother, she’s a Queen and certain sacrifices have to be made in order to maintain power.

That’s just how it is.