Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Josh Luckhurst & Ketsuda Phoutinane

Titles of Meghan and Harry's kids will remain unchanged after Queen's death

The children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are technically a prince and princess following the death of the Queen, but their titles remain unchanged.

As the grandchildren of the reigning monarch, Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor are entitled to HRH titles. However, the new order of succession published on the Royal Family's website on Saturday shows the children are still titled as Master and Miss.

It has not been confirmed by their parents or Buckingham Palace whether they will use the titles, although the update reflected the new role of Prince William after the heir was named the Prince of Wales.

His three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - are listed as 'of Wales'.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children are now entitled to royal titles following rules set out by King George V in 1917. The order of succession could be updated "as and when we get information", according to the new King Charles III's spokesman.

The new line of succession published on the royal website on Saturday had the two children listed as plain Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.

Archie and Lilibet are not listed as prince or princess on royal website as Buckingham Palace awaits information (alexilubomirski/Instagram)

The King's spokesman said the monarch had announced William and Kate's titles as the Prince and Princess of Wales, and expressed his love for Harry and Meghan in his address to the nation on Friday.

"While the website was updated for the Waleses, clearly updating love on a website doesn't quite work so we've not quite done that but clearly he does love them. We will be working through updating the website as and when we get information," he said on Saturday.

Asked whether Archie and Lilibet would take the titles of prince and princess, he said: "At the moment, we're focused on the next 10 days and as and when we get information, we will update that website."

Archie and Lili technically remain at present a prince and princess with the style HRH, whether their parents choose to use the titles or not on a day to day basis.

In 2021, it was suggested Charles – in a bid to limit the number of key royals – intended, when he became monarch, to prevent Archie becoming a prince, but it is unlikely he would make such a move which would be considered greatly damaging to his relationship with the Sussexes.

To do so, he would have to issue a Letters Patent amending Archie's right to be a prince and Lili's right to be a princess.

The royal family announced the new line of succession after the rule of King Charles III was officially declared on Saturday.

Archie and Lilibet are now a prince and princess (REUTERS)

At a historic and sombre meeting of the Accession Council at St James' Palace in London, he pledged his life to service before signing a declaration “Charles R”, the mark of the sovereign.

Praising Queen Elizabeth II, he declared: "My mother gave an example of lifelong love and of selfless service. My mother's reign was unequalled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion. Even as we grieve, we give thanks for this most faithful life."

The King also declared the day of the Queen's funeral, at Westminster Abbey a week tomorrow - Monday, September 19 - will be a bank holiday.

William, the new Prince of Wales, is now first in line to the throne after the new hierarchy was confirmed on Saturday. Prince George of Wales is now second in line to the throne with sister Princess Charlotte of Wales in third and followed by brother Prince Louis of Wales.

The Duke of Sussex is fifth in line to become King, with son Archie and daughter Lilibet in sixth and seventh respectively. The line of succession consists of 23 names, with Zara Tindall and her three children completing the list.

Meghan previously claimed that her son was denied the title of a prince during an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

When asked if it was important for her that Archie be called a prince, Meghan said she does not have any attachment to the "grandeur" of official titles.

However, when Archie was born seventh in line to the throne in May 2019, he was too far down the line of succession.

Although he was a great-grandchild of the monarch, he was not a first-born son of a future king, so was not automatically a prince.

The line of succession

1. The Prince of Wales

2. Prince George of Wales

3. Princess Charlotte of Wales

4. Prince Louis of Wales

5. The Duke of Sussex

6. Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

7. Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor

8. The Duke of York

9. Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

10. Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here .

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.