'An INSULT to Dumbarton!': Proud Scottish townsfolk hit back at 'virtue signalling' Meghan and Harry over claim they rejected Earldom for Archie in case he would be bullied for being ‘dumb’

The residents of Dumbarton reacted with fury today over claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not want their firstborn Archie to be called the Earl of Dumbarton because it contained the word 'dumb'.

Locals in the working-class town in West Dunbartonshire, which is one of Scotland's most deprived areas, blasted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for being 'stupid', 'woke' and 'insulting' for rejecting the name.

The couple, who live in an £11million mansion in California, were slammed for 'virtue signalling', seeking celebrity status and for claiming to be victims - while insulting a population of around 20,000 people in Dumbarton.

The Duke and Duchess were said to have not been keen on the Earl of Dumbarton title because they feared their son who is now two years old might be mocked and bullied as he grows up, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Lifelong residents of Dumbarton, a small town west of Glasgow, rejected the suggestion that Archie would be bullied for the association and insisted that sharing the town's name was something to be proud of.

Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie joked it was a 'low blow' and shared a meme of her with the words ''mon then', while Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar added: 'The Queen… of Dumbarton @jackiebmsp is not going to be happy!'

Dumbarton mother-of-one Nicole Bates , 21, conceded she might have been called a 'dumb blonde' but it had nothing to do with where she was from, which she said was a 'good place', while student Jade Daly , 20, said: 'I have lived in Dumbarton my entire life and I have never once been called dumb because of it'

Grandfather-of-one Bill Hannah , 83, of Dumbarton, said Harry is 'more interested in being a celebrity than following his duties', while finance officer Liz Clark , 59, said is 'pathetic' and 'insulting to the people of Dumbarton'

Father-of-one James McBarron , 41, said he was proud his little boy would grow up in the town and branded it 'insulting'. Scott Murdoch , 25, a sales rep, said: 'I didn't think they could get any stupider, but there you go'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Archie in Cape Town in September 2019 during their royal tour of South Africa

An aerial view of Dumbarton today after Prince Harry and Meghan were said to have turned down its name in a title for Archie

Mother-of-one Nicole Bates, 21, conceded that she might have been called a 'dumb blonde' but it had nothing to do with where she was from, which she said was a 'good place'.

The pub worker said 'I think that's shocking. I don't know why they would do that. Dumbarton's a good place, full of crazy people but they are certainly not dumb.

History behind the title 'The Earl of Dumbarton' 

It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas

The Earl of Dumbarton is a historic Scottish title which has been extinct for more than 250 years.

It was first created in the reign of Charles II in the 1670s and given to professional soldier George Douglas, who was also made Lord of Ettrick at the same time.

Despite being born in Scotland, most likely in Douglas Castle, Lanarkshire, to the Marquess of Douglas, George, a catholic, spent much of his time in the service of French king Louis XIV.

When James II ascended to the English and Scottish throne he was a trusted servant - even following him to exile in France after the Glorious Revolution.

Following the death of their only son, the unmarried second Earl, both of Douglas' titles became extinct in January 1749. 

The second creation of the title was in 2018, when Prince Harry was made the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel on his wedding day to Meghan Markle. 

Dumbarton in Scotland pictured in the present day

The Scottish town of Dumbarton, from the Gaelic Dùn Breatann, is rooted in rich history that can be traced back to the Iron Age.

It was once the strategic stronghold of the Alclud Kingdom, making it the centre of British power in the north.

The town was later granted the status of Royal burgh by Scotland's Alexander II in 1222. 

After his capture by the English in 1305, William Wallace was shortly imprisoned in Dumbarton Castle - today a popular tourist spot. 

'I used to be blonde, so I guess I could get called a dumb blonde - but it's nothing to do with being from Dumbarton. I think they it could maybe affect their children, so they are trying to protect them.'

Grandfather-of-one Bill Hannah, 83, added: 'I couldn't give a s***. I think how they act is ridiculous, the way they keep going on in the press. He is more interested in being a celebrity than following his duties.

'I wouldn't want him to have anything to do with Dumbarton. He can be the Prince of California for all I care.'

Student Jade Daly, 20, added: 'Refusing that is a bit dumb in itself. I have lived in Dumbarton my entire life and I have never once been called dumb because of it.

'I guess I can see why they act like they act sometimes - but refusing the title of Dumbarton for that is stupid. I think they do get treated a bit rubbish though.

'When Meghan says she has mental health issues you cannot doubt that, especially with the mental health crisis going on.'

Finance officer Liz Clark, 59, said: 'It's pathetic. It's insulting to the people of Dumbarton. They clearly want more attention, as they are chasing the celebrity life.

'So everyone that comes from Dumbarton will be bullied? It's pathetic, as I said. I think she leads him. It's going to come out who her grandmother is to her children, she can't hide away from her title.'

And Scott Murdoch, 25, a sales rep, said: 'I didn't think they could get any stupider, but there you go. I think that sums it up quite well. It's virtue signalling, to make people think they are good people.

'No children are getting bullied because of a title. They are extremely woke - your standard people that are always the victim.'

Father-of-one James McBarron, 41, said he was proud his little boy would grow up in the town and branded it 'insulting'.

Mr McBarron, who works as chef, said: 'Why have they refused that? They would never get called dumb, that would never happen. I think it's insulting. I'm from Dumbarton, lived here my whole life. If it was me, I would be proud. They should honour it.

'I'm proud to say I'm from Dumbarton, and I'm proud to have a child from Dumbarton. I mean it's part of a word. They should honour their titles. I don't think this is a problem if he is not with Meghan.'

Harry and Meghan were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Earl and Countess of Dumbarton and Baron and Baroness Kilkeel by the Queen on their wedding day.

However, they have rarely used the two other titles, with the couple instead going by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Sources meanwhile have reportedly told the Telegraph that the couple were not keen on using the Earl of Dumbarton - a title of Scottish nobility - for Archie because it began with the word 'dumb' and they were 'worried about how that might look'.

Another insider reportedly told the paper: 'It wasn't just Meghan who pointed out the potential pitfalls, it also bothered Harry.'

Prince Harry, 36, is said to have not wanted to give his children titles anyway. Instead it is believed he wants to follow in the footsteps of his aunt, Princess Anne, who did not give titles to son Peter and daughter Zara.  

The Scottish town of Dumbarton, pictured today, is rooted in rich history that can be traced back to the Iron Age

Dumbarton was once the strategic stronghold of the Alclud Kingdom, making it the centre of British power in the north

Locals in the working-class town in West Dunbartonshire blasted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for being 'stupid' and 'woke'

The royal couple were slammed for 'virtue signalling' while insulting a population of around 20,000 people in Dumbarton

Residents of Dumbarton, a small town near Glasgow, rejected the suggestion that Archie would be bullied for the association

Many Twitter joked the couple may be holding out for the Earl of Wokingham - because the LA-based Sussexes are considered so right-on - or pondered whether a dukedom on the Isles of Scilly would be better.

'Dumb and dumber': BBC Radio 4's Nick Robinson chuckles and appears to poke fun at Harry and Meghan while co-host Justin Webb is in stitches over Earl of Dumbarton story

BBC star Nick Robinson today jokingly appeared to refer to Harry and Meghan as 'dumb and dumber' on air while discussing claims the Sussexes didn't want their son to be named the Earl of Dumbarton.

Fellow Today programme host Justin Webb also laughed out loud when discussing The Daily Telegraph's story claiming the couple did not want their eldest son to use the title because it contained the word 'dumb'. 

Listeners also enjoyed the funny moment that came weeks after Harry and Meghan declared war on the BBC over their claims that they failed to consult the Queen about using her nickname 'Lilibet' for their new daughter, with the couple's lawyers calling it 'false and defamatory'.

This morning Mr Robinson appeared to poke fun at the couple during Today's paper review. 

A laughing Justin Webb said: 'The Daily Telegraph is claiming that Prince Harry and Meghan turned down the title of Earl of Dumbarton for their son Archie because it contained the word dumb. A spokesman for the couple declined to comment'.

Co-host Nick Robinson then laughed and said: 'Dumb and dumber' before moving on to the next story. Mr Robinson told MailOnline after the show ended: 'I would be horrified if Mail readers thought I was making a comment of any sort though I can say that I'm the Dumb one', adding: 'As for Justin...'

The phrase 'dumb and dumber' is being widely used on social media by critics of the couple who have seen the Telegraph story. 

Others were angry on behalf of the people of Dumbarton, saying it is 'insulting' to residents. 

Reacting to the Telegraph's story Ant Watts, tweeted: 'Should have offered the title Earl of Wokingham surely…?' another wrote: 'How about the Earl of Wokingham? Seems to fit better!' Dozens more made the same joke.

GB News presenter Colin Brazier offered an alternative and said in a tongue-in-cheek tweet: 'The Dukedom of the Isles of Scilly never stood a chance'. 

Meanwhile, the Telegraph also reported how sources close to the Sussexes claim the couple 'never raised an issue' about Archie, two, not being made a prince.

It comes after reports in the Mail on Sunday suggested that Prince Charles had told Meghan and Harry that Archie would not be made a prince when he becomes king, as he plans to slim-down the number of 'front-line' royals.

The issue was raised during their jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, when Meghan claimed Archie had been blocked from a royal title - and could no longer get taxpayer funded security.

Meghan told the US chat show host: 'They didn't want him to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol, and that he wasn't going to receive security.

She added: 'In those months when I was pregnant we have in tandem the conversation of, you won't be given security, not gonna be given a title and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.'

However, the sources are said to have told the Telegraph that the couple had 'never raised an issue' about the titles, or lack off, until the interview.

It comes as the Mail on Sunday earlier this week claimed that Prince Charles had made it clear that Harry and Meghan's son will have no place among frontline Royals as he plans a slimmed-down Monarchy after he becomes King.

The Prince of Wales is said to have initially intended to include Harry and Meghan in his slimmed-down Monarchy, but the plan is said to have changed when the pair moved to America.

A grandchild of the sovereign has long had the right to be a Prince, but Charles is determined to limit the number of key Royals, believing the public does not wish to pay for an ever-expanding Monarchy.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Charles told the Sussexes that he will change key legal documents to ensure that Archie cannot get the title he would once have inherited by right, according to a source close to the couple.

The move is said to have incensed the Sussexes and is thought to have prompted the series of bitter accusations the couple have levelled at Charles and the Royal Family from across the Atlantic.

Dumbarton's MSP Jackie Baillie joked last night that it was a 'low blow' and shared a meme of her with the words ''mon then'

 

However, it was later reported by the Sun that the decision for the couple to do their interview with Oprah came within 24 hours of Harry's military titles being removed in February's final Megxit deal.

Some Twitter users rushed to suggest the 'Earl of Wokingham' as an alternative name for the right-on couple

It comes as a royal expert today claimed that Meghan and Harry's decision to buy a 'Lili Diana' website almost a week before their daughter's birth and 'Lilibet Diana' on the day she arrived indicates they had 'already made up their minds' on the name before speaking to the Queen.

Four days before Lili was born in California the domain LiliDiana.com was registered on May 31 followed by LilibetDiana.com on June 4 – the day Archie's younger sister entered the world.

'Lilibet' was first used by the then Princess Elizabeth when she was unable to pronounce her own name and was used affectionately by her grandfather George V and later her husband Philip until he died in April.

Following claims by the BBC that the Queen had not been consulted, Harry and Meghan's lawyers said it was 'false and defamatory' to suggest they did not discuss using the name with Her Majesty.

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'The fact they registered it before the name was announced tends to indicate that they had made up their minds and probably only told the Queen once they'd decided on it.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose with Archie following his birth, at St George's Hall in Windsor Castle in May 2019

The issue of royal titles raised during Harry and Meghan's jaw-dropping interview with Oprah Winfrey in the US in March 

'When they issued a statement it said Harry had rung the Queen before anyone else and discussed the name with her. That may well be right but that's not the same as asking permission days or even weeks beforehand. 

'I think the Queen might have been caught off guard and probably didn't object to it because she doesn't want to upset Harry any further'.

He added: 'But from what I hear the Palace has not denied the BBC story which claimed Harry didn't ask permission before announcing the name.'

Evening Standard Royal Editor Robert Jobson suggested that the couple may have undermined their legal threat against the BBC, tweeting today that their lawyers could now be 'without a paddle'.

The public announcement of Lilibet Diana's arrival came two days later. Harry insists he spoke to his grandmother about the name 'in advance of the announcement' but has not been specific on when that exactly was only to say: 'His grandmother was the first family member he called'.

A spokesman for the couple told The Telegraph: 'As is often customary with public figures, a significant number of domains of any potential names that were considered were purchased... to protect against the exploitation of the name once it was later chosen and shared.'

The statement suggests that had Her Majesty refused to allow them to use Lilibet they would have gone for another name amongst the 'significant' number of domains they bought before the birth.

MailOnline had contacted representatives of the Sussexes for comment.