Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet received their royal titles in 2023, when Archie was four years old and ‘Lili’ Diana two.
However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle once opened up over their fears of their children and royal titles when they sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a tell-all interview in 2021. So what changed?
When the two Sussex children were first born, neither of them had royal titles due to a long-standing tradition within The Firm, and this upset Archie and Lilibet’s parents. Here’s the full explainer on what the couple said before and after their children were finally known as Prince and Princess.
Meghan Markle’s complaint over Prince Archie’s title
During her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle claimed her son was not given a royal title because of his race.
However, experts came out at the time to explain it was actually because only the grandchildren of the living monarch are given the royal title of Prince. Archie was Queen Elizabeth II’s great-grandchild, meaning he was not entitled to the royal title, nor Lilibet, as she was born in 2021.
Meghan claimed during the CBS show: “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 [said] that he wasn’t going to receive security.”
When asked by Oprah if she was bothered by this, the former Suits star said: “All the grandeur surrounding this stuff is an attachment I don’t personally have. I have been a waitress, an actress, a princess, a duchess, and I’ve always just been Meghan.
“The most important title I will ever have is Mom but the idea of our son not being safe and also the idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be…”
She went further to allege that the ‘tradition’ was changed while she was pregnant.
“It’s not their right to take it away…” she said. “While I was pregnant they said they want to change the convention for Archie. Well, why?”
What does royal protocol say about titles?
It was King George V – Queen Elizabeth II’s grandfather – who brought the rule in force in November 1917.
He issued a letter patent to declare that the great-grandchildren of the monarch would no longer be prince or princesses, except for the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.
Before Charles was crowned King, this would have been William’s son George, who automatically became a prince when he was born. But it did not include Archie, even though he was born as a great-grandson of the Queen.
Therefore, Meghan’s claim that the convention was changed when she was pregnant, was false. The rule had been in force for 102 years before Archie was born.
It also meant that George’s siblings, Charlotte and Louis, wouldn’t have received a title either. However, the Queen issued a letter patent in 2012 amending this, explaining William’s children would be entitled to be a prince and princess and HRH title as he was the second heir to the throne.
To add, the prince and princess title only travels through the male line, and this is why Princess Anne’s children do not have titles and are known as Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips – despite being the late Queen’s grandchildren.
When did Archie and Lilibet get their prince and princess titles?
Archie and Lilibet received their royal titles, officially becoming prince and princess in March 2023. They are also entitled to use the His/Her Royal Highness titles.
However, in a strange twist, Buckingham Palace didn’t announce the news – despite Harry and Meghan apparently ‘hoping’ that they would.
The young royals officially became prince and princess when their grandfather, Charles, ascended to the throne in September 2022. Previously, they were simply referred to as Master Archie and Miss Lilibet on the Buckingham Palace website.
But the young royals had been confirmed as officially taking their titles by the Sussexes.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes confirmed the news – and title change – in a statement after Lilibet’s christening earlier that month.
“I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3. By Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rve John Taylor,” they said.
They also confirmed that children’s titles were their “birthright”.
“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,” they said.
Buckingham Palace didn’t announce change to Archie and Lilibet titles
According to a royal expert, Meghan and Harry actually wanted Buckingham Palace to announce Archie and Lilibet’s title changes.
Ingrid Seward, a royal biographer and the editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, made the claims during a chat with the Mirror.
“Archie and Lilibet have been allowed to use this style since their great-grandmother died, but their parents have chosen not to until now,” she said.
“How interesting they waited six months to do this. They were hoping the Palace would jump the gun and announce it before they did. No such luck,” she then continued.
“Buckingham Palace left their website intact and allowed the Sussexes to make the move themselves so they couldn’t complain.”
She then went on to say that no one is going to “push the traditions of the monarchy aside”.
