Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Securing Royal Titles for Their Children
The Royal Connection
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their roles as senior members of the British Royal Family. They moved to the USA in 2020 and now live in Montecito with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
The couple no longer perform royal duties. However, they still hold their HRH (His or Her Royal Highness) titles. They choose not to use these titles in public but reportedly use them privately.
Royal Titles for Their Children
Archie and Lilibet, the children of Harry and Meghan, also have HRH titles. Prince Harry is keen on keeping these titles for his children. This ensures that they can choose to return to royal life when they grow up.
Harry has been working to secure U.K. passports for his children. He wants their passports to include the surname “Sussex” and their HRH titles. This process has not been straightforward, with pushback from palace circles.
The Passport Situation
Archie’s first passport listed his name as Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, following the British Royal Family’s tradition. However, when King Charles became king in 2022, Archie and Lilibet became entitled to be called prince and princess.
In March 2023, Harry and Meghan confirmed they would use these titles for their children. They stated, “The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch.”
Meghan Markle shared a video on Instagram to celebrate Lilibet’s second birthday. The video showed Meghan dancing while awaiting Lilibet’s birth, with Prince Harry joining her in the hospital room.
The Delay in Issuing Passports
There was a delay in issuing the passports. A source close to the Sussexes mentioned there was “clear reluctance” from palace circles. King Charles reportedly didn’t want Archie and Lilibet to carry the HRH designations.
Harry insisted on keeping the HRH titles. He wants his children to have the choice to use them in the future. The passport situation lasted nearly six months, longer than the standard three-week processing time.
The Family Surname
Harry and Meghan considered changing their family surname to Spencer, in honor of Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. However, they decided to use “Sussex” instead, aligning with their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.
The passports were finally issued after the couple’s lawyers wrote to the U.K. Home Office, threatening legal action. This would have exposed internal communications about the delay.
The Future for Archie and Lilibet
Harry and Meghan may have left their royal life behind, but they want their children to have the option to embrace it someday. The question remains: Will Archie and Lilibet ever choose to use their royal titles? Only time will tell.
