Quick Answer
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their daughter Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor on June 4, 2021. As the child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Lili is entitled to be called Lady Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. However, she will not automatically become a princess due to rules set forth by King George V in 1917 limiting the use of prince and princess titles. Lili could eventually receive the title of princess when her grandfather Prince Charles ascends the throne, as he has the power to change the rules. But it is not guaranteed she will ever officially be Princess Lilibet.
Who decides royal titles?
The power to grant titles, including prince and princess, lies with the ruling British monarch. Currently, Queen Elizabeth II holds this authority. When determining who can use the prince or princess titles, the monarchy follows guidelines established by King George V in 1917.
King George V issued a royal decree that limited the use of prince and princess to the children of the sovereign, the children of the sovereign’s sons, and the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales (who is now Prince Charles). That means great-grandchildren of the monarch do not automatically become princes and princesses, except for the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.
Why isn’t Lilibet automatically a princess?
As the great-grandchild of the reigning Queen Elizabeth II, Lilibet does not fall into the categories outlined by King George V to receive the title princess by right.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose not to give their daughter a courtesy title when she was born. As the child of a duke, she could have used Lady Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. But her parents opted not to use any title.
Some people wondered if the Queen would step in and make Lilibet a princess given the circumstances of Megxit. But the Palace announced the baby would be Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, confirming no princess title was given.
Could the rules change when Prince Charles is King?
When Prince Charles ascends to the throne, he will have the power to change the rules about who qualifies as a prince or princess set forth by his grandfather King George V. He could theoretically bestow the title Princess Lilibet on his granddaughter once he is King.
However, royal experts do not believe Charles will make this change when he becomes monarch. He has previously spoken about wanting to streamline the monarchy, so expanding titles to more family members goes against that vision. Charles will likely keep the current 1917 decree in place rather than revise it.
What title will Lilibet have when Prince William is King?
If the rules are not changed when Prince Charles becomes King, the next opportunity for Lilibet to potentially receive the princess title would be under the reign of her uncle Prince William.
As the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, William’s children are entitled to the prince and princess titles as great-grandchildren of the sovereign. But William’s younger brother Harry’s children are excluded from this automatic right.
Once William is King, Lilibet will be his niece rather than his great-niece. Some speculate William could bestow the title Princess Lilibet on his niece at that time. But again, most experts think William will continue to abide by the current George V convention as his father and grandmother did.
Will Archie become a prince?
Lilibet’s older brother Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is in a similar position. He was not born a prince due to the 1917 decree.
Just like Lilibet, Archie could receive the prince title when his grandfather Charles or uncle William takes the throne. But this remains unlikely given their preferences for a smaller royal family.
The only scenario where Archie would automatically become a prince is following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. As the son of a duke, he can use one of Prince Charles’ lesser titles. When Charles becomes King, Archie will be entitled to become Prince Archie as the grandson of the sovereign.
Current line of succession
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Prince Charles |
| 2 | Prince William |
| 3 | Prince George |
| 4 | Princess Charlotte |
| 5 | Prince Louis |
| 6 | Prince Harry |
| 7 | Archie Mountbatten-Windsor |
| 8 | Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor |
Will Meghan and Harry’s future children get titles?
If Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have any additional children, they will fall into the same category as Archie and Lili when it comes to titles.
None of Harry and Meghan’s children will automatically be princes or princesses at birth under the current rules. They will only receive titles if the reigning monarch chooses to change the rules.
This is different from Prince William’s children, who are entitled to prince/princess titles as grandchildren of the monarch in the direct line of succession. Any future children born to Prince William will also automatically be titled.
Do titles really matter that much?
While royal watchers enjoy speculating about potential title changes, how much do the titles genuinely matter?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made the unprecedented decision to step back from senior royal duties in 2020. They have started new lives with their children in California.
As non-working royals living abroad, some argue that traditional royal titles hold little significance for Archie and Lilibet. Their parents seem focused on providing them normal childhoods outside the monarchy.
But supporters of Harry and Meghan are still eager to see the children formally recognized as prince and princess. They see the current rules as outdated and unfair given their proximity to the throne, particularly once Prince Charles is King.
Could Meghan and Harry’s kids ever lose titles?
If Archie and Lilibet do eventually become a prince and princess, some wonder if they could lose those titles later in certain situations.
Royal expert Iain MacMarthanne told Express in 2021 that the titles could potentially be removed if Charles or William ever felt it “necessary.”
Reasons could include Harry and Meghan causing issues with their public statements or commercial deals. Or if Archie and Lilibet themselves engage in seriously damaging conduct once they are adults.
However, removing titles that were already given is rare. More likely, Archie and Lilibet would choose not to use the prince and princess styles as adults, following their parents’ independent path.
Will Lilibet meet the Queen soon?
Queen Elizabeth II has yet to meet her great-granddaughter Lilibet in person. Harry and Meghan named their daughter after the Queen’s childhood nickname.
The Sussexes have traveled from California to the UK together twice since Lilibet was born. But the timing of their visits did not align for the Queen to meet the baby.
Royal watchers speculate Harry and Meghan will arrange for Lilibet to meet the Queen in 2023. As a toddler, she will be at a prime age for air travel to the UK and interacting with her great-grandmother.
If the Queen’s health declines, Harry will likely prioritize bringing Lili and Archie for her to meet them at least once. Strengthening ties with the royal family also requires the Sussex kids spending time with their relatives.
Do Archie and Lilibet have royal security?
One controversial issue has been who pays for Archie and Lilibet’s security needs. As grandchildren of the future monarch, both children qualify for armed police protection in the UK per Prince Charles’ request.
But the Home Office denied Harry’s offer to personally fund police security for his family while visiting Britain. The government said they are no longer entitled to taxpayer-funded security since they are not working royals.
In the U.S., Archie and Lili’s famous parents can afford top-level private security. Harry also sued the Home Office arguing his kids are at risk without British police protection when they are in the UK.
For now, their security remains privately funded by Harry and Meghan in both countries. But the legal battle continues in the UK over whether the children deserve government security while there.
Do Archie and Lilibet have royal duties?
As non-working royals living in the U.S., Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor will not carry out any royal duties or engagements on behalf of the Crown during their childhoods.
Their parents made the unprecedented decision to step back from the monarchy in January 2020. Harry and Meghan wished to earn their own money and raise Archie in a more private environment away from the pressures of royal life.
The Sussexes are focused on non-profit work and commercial deals rather than royal duties. They seem intent on giving both of their children similarly independent upbringings focused on regular experiences over royal training.
Archie and Lilibet’s public appearances will likely be limited to joining their parents at charity events or family occasions like Trooping the Colour. They will not take part in walkabouts meeting the public like the Cambridge kids.
Will Archie and Lilibet get HRH titles eventually?
The coveted His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles distinguish working royal family members from those who have stepped back. HRH titles can also be removed or given on the ruling monarch’s discretion.
Archie and Lilibet were entitled to HRH titles at birth as grandchildren of the sovereign’s son. But the Sussexes agreed for their children not to use HRH when they stepped down as senior royals.
Like the prince and princess titles, HRH could hypothetically be added back once Charles or William takes the throne. But again this is considered doubtful given their desires for a slimmed down monarchy.
Harry and Meghan seem unconcerned with their children carrying HRH. They have given them lives free from both the burdens and privileges of royal HRH status.
Conclusion
While Harry and Meghan’s children have the royal blood of the Windsors, they remain unlikely to ever hold prince and princess titles based on current rules and preferences. Lilibet will not automatically be Princess Lilibet simply because of her birth. Archie faces the same situation as her older brother. The titles would require intentional changes by the future kings Charles or William. Most experts think they will leave the longstanding regulations alone to keep the monarchy smaller. As non-working royals, Archie and Lilibet do not need these titles for royal duties regardless. Harry and Meghan seem focused on allowing their children relatively normal lives without feeling burdened by royal statuses and pressures. Barring unexpected interventions by the Queen before her death or proactive revisions by future monarchs, the Sussex kids seem destined to remain master and miss rather than prince and princess. Even if they do eventually gain titles, using them regularly would still seem at odds with their parents’ hopes for their upbringings.
