Archie and Lilibet will be given the title of prince and princess
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children will reportedly not get HRH status from King Charles III, leaving the the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “furious”.
Harry’s dad, who was proclaimed king on Saturday, is said to have agreed to instead bestow the title of prince and princess on his California-based grandkids, Archie, 3, and one-year-old Lilibet, The Sun reported on Thursday.
His Majesty has reportedly agreed to issue letters patent to confer the titles and is expected to anoint them in the near future.
The newspaper suggested tense discussions had taken place over recent days while Meghan and Harry are in the UK for the Queen’s funeral on Monday. She passed away peacefully in Balmoral on September 8, aged 96.
Harry, 37, and Meghan, 41, agreed not to use their His and Her Royal Highness titles when they moved to the US two and half years ago in what was the start of an acrimonious split from the royal family, made worse after the couple sat down for a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Charles is said to have told Harry not to bring Meghan to Balmoral as other royals rushed to her beside when it was announced doctor’s had become concerned for her health last week.
The Sussexes are said to have pointed out that princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have HRH status even thought they are not working royals.
A source told The Sun: “Harry and Meghan were worried about the security issue and being prince and princess brings them the right to have certain levels of royal security.
“There have been a lot of talks over the past week.
“They have been insistent that Archie and Lilibet are prince and princess.
“They have been relentless since the Queen died.
“But they have been left furious that Archie and Lilibet cannot take the title HRH.
“That is the agreement — they can be prince and princess but not HRH because they are not working royals.”
During her interview with Oprah, Meghan mentioned royal titles, saying she was concerned with the security ramifications involved with “the idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that the other grandchildren” are.
Asked by Oprah whether she thinks it was “because of his race,” Meghan appeared to agree, saying: “All around this same time — we have in tandem the conversation of, ‘He won’t be given security, he’s not going to be given a title,’ and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.”
On the official order of succession, so far, Archie and Lilibet are only referred to as Master and Miss. They are listed as sixth and seventh in line for the throne. Nine others in the top 23 also only have such titles.
Royal expert Phil Dampier told MailOnline that Harry and Meghan “should be pleased” with the “classic compromise” offered.
“Even though their children are still high up in the line of succession, they will not be working royals, so it’s quite right they shouldn’t have titles,” he said.
“Lots of people think Harry and Meghan themselves should lose their titles, so I think they should just accept this compromise and be grateful as it could be a lot worse for them and their children.”
A spokesperson for the king said the new monarch is “focused on the mourning period” — which for the royal family lasts until September 26 — making it “unlikely” he will announce any new titles during that time.
The Sussexes have not comments on the matter.
Related links:
- Charles ‘told Prince Harry not to bring Meghan Markle to Balmoral to see dying Queen’
- Woman visits Queen’s coffin eight times in less than 24 hours
- The Queen’s funeral may finally tip UK into recession, economists suggest
- BBC to air Paddington films in honour of the Queen ahead of and on day of funeral
- Vanessa Feltz in heated clash with royal biographer for ‘fuelling anti-Meghan Markle faction’
- Man charged after Prince Andrew heckled during royal procession
