Recent headlines suggesting that Buckingham Palace “shocked the nation” by revealing the “true identity” of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, Archie and Lilibet, have caused quite a stir online. However, the reality is far more procedural and rooted in long-standing royal protocol.
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Upon the accession of King Charles III in September 2022, the rules of British royal titles automatically applied to his grandchildren. Under the 1917 Letters Patent issued by King George V, all male-line grandchildren of the reigning monarch are entitled to the style of Prince or Princess. As such, Archie (born May 6, 2019) and Lilibet (born June 4, 2021) were formally entitled to be called Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. Prior to this, they were commonly styled as “Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor” and “Miss Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.”
The titles were officially reflected on the royal family’s website in March 2023, making it clear that Archie and Lilibet’s royal status had now been fully acknowledged publicly (Vogue, Business Insider). This update merely formalized what had already been determined by royal tradition—the children’s titles are a matter of inheritance rather than personal decision.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have confirmed their children’s titles in public statements, emphasizing that these designations are a natural part of the royal lineage. The couple has also clarified that while Archie and Lilibet hold the official titles, they do not currently use them in everyday life, preferring a more private and normal upbringing for their children