Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Were Hoping Royals Would Announce Titles

(Image credit: Getty)

published 13 March 2023

When the Queen sadly passed away in September and Charles became King, Archie and Lilibet automatically became entitled to use "Prince" and "Princess" titles if their parents chose.

Until just recently, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn't show any sign of announcing whether or not their children would be using their royal titles. While the King could have barred them from using them if he chose, he didn't do that either.

Then, the Sussexes announced that their daughter had been christened in Los Angeles, with a statement that called her "Princess Lilibet Diana." Hours later, the royal couple stated, "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."

Soon after that, the Palace changed the children's titles to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in the line of succession.

However, reports are circulating that the King felt "blindsided" by the Sussexes' decision to use the titles all of a sudden, though it's hard to know what really went down.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor during a photocall in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019 in Windsor, England. The Duchess of Sussex gave birth at 05:26 on Monday 06 May, 2019

For one royal expert, this whole situation didn't go the way the Sussexes hoped it might. Speaking to the Mirror, Ingrid Seward contrasted their announcement for Lili with the way the King so officially announced he was making Prince Edward Duke of Edinburgh.

"Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, asked their spokesperson to announce when their 21-month-old daughter Lilibet was christened in Los Angeles last week she would be baptized using the royal style Princess. Archie in turn would use the style, Prince," Seward 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."

Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Bustle and Shape. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.