King Charles will wait on Prince Harry's upcoming memoir before making a final decision over Archie and Lilibet's royal titles, a royal expert has claimed.
The Duke of Sussex has signed a four-book deal worth millions with Penguin Random House, with the first of these a tell-all memoir that was scheduled to go to press later this year.
Many expect the publication to now be delayed until next year following the death of the Queen.
The delay could leave the Sussex children's titles up in the air, claims royal expert Katie Nicholl.
Following the Queen's passing, the Sussexes’ children automatically have the right to be a HRH with Archie a prince and Lilibet a princess - unless and until Charles sticks to his image of a slimmed-down monarchy.
But the King is said to be holding back on any decision until after the book hits the shelves.
Ms Nicholl, Vanity Fair's royal correspondent and author of The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown, believes Charles will keep his cards close to his chest until the publication date.
She writes: "Now that Charles is king, Harry and Meghan’s children automatically become Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex; however, the royal family’s website still has them listed as Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
"Would Charles go as far as barring Archie and Lilibet from becoming a prince and a princess now that the Sussexes are no longer working royals?
"According to a source close to the king, it depends a lot on what happens in the coming months, particularly with Harry’s book and their TV show."
Archie and Lilibet are sixth and seventh in line to the throne and the Royal Family's website still calls them Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
Other titles have been updated following the Queen's death with William and Kate now the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children also taking on the Wales title.
The Royal Family website adds: "Some information on this website may be out of date following the recent announcement of the death of The Queen."
Charles is said to want to limit the top tier of royals and is also reportedly reluctant for his brother Prince Edward to take the title Duke of Edinburgh, even though it was their late father’s wish.
Once the book is published, there will be no going back for Prince Harry, according to royal author Robert Jobson.
He wrote in The Sun : “Harry will no doubt be torn between wanting acceptance from his family and also the love of his wife. But he has now left himself in a Catch-22 situation.
"He has signed a four-book deal worth millions with Penguin Random House. He needs the money to fund his flash Californian lifestyle.
"Once that book, which is now written, hits bookshelves there will be no going back for Harry."
