A hereditary peer has spoken out against the idea of Prince Harry and Prince Andrew taking seats in the House of Lords.
The comments were made during a debate in the Upper House when the topic of Royal Family members potentially joining the chamber was discussed.
The House of Lords functions as the second chamber of Parliament, working alongside the House of Commons to scrutinise policy, legislate and hold the Government accountable.
Members of the Lords, known as peers, can gain their position through appointment, by holding certain positions such as the Archbishop of Canterbury, or through inheritance.
Prince Andrew and Prince Harry ‘blocked’ from House of Lords in brutal blow
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However, according to Lord Northbrook, a 71-year-old hereditary peer from the Baring family, not all royals would be welcome in the chamber.
Lord Northbrook made his position clear during the debate, stating: “I might draw the line at the Duke of York or the Duke of Sussex, but I could tolerate some others.”
His comments, reported by the Mail, explicitly singled out Prince Harry and Prince Andrew as royals he would not welcome in the Lords.
The peer’s stance reflects the controversies surrounding both dukes in recent years.
Lord Northbrook made the brutal comments in the Upper House
UK Parliament
Prince Harry’s departure from royal duties in 2020 and Prince Andrew’s withdrawal from public life in 2019 have made them divisive figures.
Both men have retained their ducal titles but no longer use their HRH styling.
The hereditary peer’s comments suggest that while some royals might be acceptable additions to the Upper House, these two particular members of the Royal Family would face opposition.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020, relinquishing their roles and relocating to California.
The couple retained their Sussex titles but stopped using the ‘HRH’ styling, with Harry also losing his military titles.
Prince Andrew has faced his own series of scandals in recent years, leading to his withdrawal from public duties in 2019.
The Duke of York’s troubles stemmed from his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth stripped him of his military titles and patronages, and he stopped using his HRH title. More recently, in 2024, the Duke was linked to an investigation involving an alleged Chinese spy.
