Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, Archie and Lilibet, have officially been recognized as a prince and princess, according to a recent report by MailOnline. The update to their titles was
made on the Royal Family’s website, where the children now hold the titles of ‘Prince Archie of Sussex’ and ‘Princess Lilibet of Sussex,’ respectively. They remain sixth and seventh in line to the throne.
Previously, the children were referred to as ‘master’ and ‘miss’ Mountbatten-Windsor on the Buckingham Palace webpage. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had declared that it was their children’s birthright to be called prince and princess in a statement defending the decision. They also stated that the matter had been settled for some time with King Charles, despite only being revealed by the couple recently.
It was reported that the King had told Prince Harry that his children would be allowed to be called prince and princess in a ‘private conversation’ after the Queen’s funeral last year. The spokesperson for Harry and Meghan stated that “the children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became Monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.”
Lilibet’s royal title of ‘Princess’ was formally used for the first time yesterday, when the couple revealed that she had been christened in California without the presence of Charles, Camilla, William, and Kate. Sources close to the Sussexes suggested that they were frustrated that Buckingham Palace failed to immediately recognize Archie and Lilibet's titles after the Queen's death six months ago.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children, had their titles swiftly changed when Charles acceded to the throne in September. However, Archie and Lili's were not changed until around 24 hours after the baptism announcement yesterday. Buckingham Palace sources claimed that they were waiting for Harry and Meghan to make a final decision.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to fight for their children’s titles has sparked a debate about the use of royal titles in modern times. Traditionally, only the children and grandchildren of the monarch hold the title of prince or princess. However, there have been instances in the past where the Queen has issued Letters Patent to extend the use of the titles to the great-grandchildren of the monarch.
It is also worth noting that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back as senior members of the royal family in 2020 has led to them losing their own titles of ‘His/Her Royal Highness.’ Despite this, they have continued to use the title of ‘Duke and Duchess of Sussex.’
In conclusion, the recognition of Archie and Lilibet as a prince and princess is a significant development in the history of the British monarchy. The decision has sparked a debate about the use of royal titles in modern times and has raised questions about the role of the monarchy in contemporary society. Ultimately, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact the future of the British monarchy and its relationship with the public. Photo by Mark Jones, Wikimedia commons.