Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently held a christening ceremony for their daughter, Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, in Montecito.
Alongside this event, a message from the couple’s spokesperson revealed that the children, 21-month-old Lilibet and three-year-old Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, would now be officially recognized with the titles of Prince and Princess in formal settings.
Buckingham Palace promptly updated its website to reflect these changes, listing Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex as sixth and seventh in line to the throne, respectively.
A spokesperson for Meghan and Harry clarified that the children’s titles have been established as a birthright since their grandfather’s reign.
This alignment with Buckingham Palace is based on the 1917 letters patent issued by King George V, which stipulates that all children of sons of a monarch can bear the title of prince or princess and use the designation HRH before their name.
While Archie and Lilibet technically received their titles following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September, there has been speculation over their usage and potential protocol changes under future monarch King Charles III.
The palace chose not to disclose specific details regarding the children’s new titles, emphasizing a focus on mourning the late Queen.
Sources close to the royal family have hinted at uncertainties surrounding the titles, with concerns raised by Meghan and Harry over the possibility of them being revoked.
However, reports suggest that an agreement between Charles and Harry regarding the titles was reached prior to the new year, predating the release of Harry’s memoir “Spare.”
Notably, Buckingham Palace delayed updating the site with the prince and princess titles for Archie and Lilibet until the children’s parents publicly acknowledged Lilibet’s title.
Despite this acknowledgment, the children do not hold HRH status, as the use of such honorifics would come through their father, the Duke of Sussex.
In a historical context, a similar adjustment to royal titles occurred in 2012 after the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, leading to a new letters patent and changes in the order of succession.
The question arises: Are Archie and Lilibet’s titles merely a strategic move by the Sussexes for financial gain?
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