Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor (3) and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor (21 months) became Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. How the titles came about is clear to the parents of the two. Prince Harry (38) and Duchess Meghan (41) made it clear through a spokesman on Thursday: "Children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch."
The Duke and Duchess also stressed that matters had been going on with Buckingham Palace and King Charles III for some time. (74) has been clarified – although the couple only announced this yesterday. On Wednesday, a spokesman for the couple told People magazine in a statement confirming the girl's baptism, citing the caption: "Princess Lilibet was christened on March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, Reverend John Taylor. "
In the wake of this statement, it was reported that the king is said to have told his son in a "private conversation" after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) last year that his children can be called prince and princess. What still sounds like a concession by the new monarch, the emigrated royals put in a slightly different light with their most recent statement.
In fact, the titles go back to the precedent set by King George V (1865-1936). In 1917 he had issued a patent letter conferring the title of prince or princess on grandchildren in the ruler's male line. Since Charles III. So, as King of the United Kingdom, Archie and Lilibet are indeed entitled to their titles.
As a monarch, Charles III could change this rule, the "People" magazine reported in September 2022. A spokesman said at the time that during the family's mourning period, which ended a week after the Queen's funeral, nothing would be decided or said on the subject. There has been no official announcement from the palace side to date, and Archie and Lilibet are not yet named prince and princess on the royal family's website either.
After the birth of Archie, however, the parents also made it clear that they had deliberately decided not to give their firstborn a princely title. Without the royal suffix, Archie should be able to lead a civil life. However, with the death of the Queen and the enthronement of the King, his grandfather, he was now automatically given the title of prince. Like Harry's title of prince, this title is not associated with aristocratic duties and the everyday life of the royal family.
Prince Archie is currently sixth in line to the British throne, with his sister seventh.
Harry and Meghan have been married since 2018 and emigrated to the United States in 2020. Lilibet "Lili" Diana was born on June 4, 2021 in Santa Barbara, California. Her big brother Archie Harrison (3) saw the light of day on May 6, 2019 in London.
In interviews, a Netflix documentary and an autobiography of the prince, Harry and Meghan have criticized members of the British royal family, local customs and the British press since emigrating.
