The death of Queen Elizabeth II means there will be a change in the way the children of Prince Harry will be known.
At least for now.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, is now technically a prince, and their daughter Lilibet “Lili” Mountbatten-Windsor is a princess since Charles, their grandfather and the former Prince of Wales, is now king.
The children would be given the new titles under the protocols established by King George V, Elizabeth’s grandfather, in 1917. According to the protocols, the children of a king or queen have the automatic right to the title HRH (His, or Her, Royal Highness) along with being known as a prince or princess, as do the grandchildren of a king or queen whose father is the son of that king or queen.
However, some believe the chance for Harry’s children to have the titles may not come at all as Charles has long talked about his preference for a slimmed-down monarchy.
The change in title, which for more than 100 years was an automatic right following the death of a sovereign, could be one way to pare down the number of those considered senior royals.
The Duchess of Sussex suggested in an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year that the royal family had discussed changing the rules to deprive Archie of the title of prince.
According to Meghan, the family had decided, while she was pregnant with Archie, not to grant him either the title of prince or the designation His Royal Highness and suggested that the decision was linked to their concerns about the color of the baby’s skin.
“I think even with that convention I’m talking about, while I was pregnant, they said they want to change the convention for Archie,” she said in the interview.
“We have in tandem the conversation of, ‘He won’t be given security. He’s not going to be given a title,’” she said, “And also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.”
Harry added in the interview that the conversation about skin color — “What will the kids look like?” — happened before they were married.
Buckingham Palace responded days later with a statement that said, “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Meghan and Harry.”
“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved family members.”