Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly turned down a royal title for their son Archie not long after his birth.
Prince Archie, now six, is sixth in the line of succession to the throne. He is the first-born child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who also share daughter Princess Lilibet. She was born in June 2021.
Following Prince Archie’s birth in May 2019, he wasn’t expected to be referred to as a prince. But he was eligible for another rare peerage.
Why wasn’t Prince Harry’s son Archie automatically known by the title prince?
Great-grandchildren of a reigning monarch have not been referred to as “Prince” or “Princess” since a letter patent was issued by King George V in November 1917.
An exception was made for the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, meaning Prince William and Kate’s son George was afforded the title. However, in 2012, the late Queen Elizabeth II decided all of the children the Waleses may have would be permitted to be called prince or princess. And so Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, and Prince Louis, born in 2018, were also included.
Furthermore, once King Charles became monarch in 2022, all of his grandchildren were then entitled to be known by such titles. And so Archie and his sister were extended the same honour as their cousins.
However, before King Charles’ accession in 2022, Archie could have reportedly had another title instead. But, according to one royal author, the Sussexes weren’t keen.
Prince Harry has more than one title
Tom Bower wrote in his 2022 book Revenge that Meghan reacted: “Hell no.”
He contends Sir Thomas Woodcock, the Garter of Arms, contacted Archie’s mother to discuss titles after his May 2019 birth.
When the Sussexes married in May 2018, Prince Harry also received the titles of Earl of Dumbarton in Scotland, and Baron Kilkeel in Northern Ireland.
And even though she became the Countess of Dumbarton upon marriage, Bower claimed that Meghan felt upset for the implications for her son.
Meghan and Harry ‘worried’ over title
An unnamed source claimed to The Telegraph in 2021: “They didn’t like the idea of Archie being called the Earl of Dumbarton because it began with the word ‘dumb’. They were worried about how that might look.”
Additionally, a separate insider reportedly said: “It wasn’t just Meghan who pointed out the potential pitfalls. It also bothered Harry.”
But amid some negative reactions from Dumbarton locals at the time to the rumours, and criticism from some quarters about the Sussexes and their family having any titles after they stepped away from royal duties in 2020, other relatives have previously decided titles were not appropriate for their offspring.
Prince Edward and Sophie, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, did so for children Louise and James. And Princess Anne also chose not give titles to her son Peter Phillips and daughter Zara Tindall.
