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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Siobhan Macdonald

Archie and Lilibet's title announcement had one-word 'stark' difference to Prince Edward's, says expert

In the lead up to the coronation, King Charles has approved a slew of new royal titles including some for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's two children.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's young children will now be known as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after it was revealed last week that Lilibet had been christened. Their one-year-old daughter was baptised in an intimate ceremony at their home in America with around 20 to 30 guests present for the important celebration.

It was then announced King Charles would bestow the Duke of Edinburgh title on his younger brother Prince Edward following the death of their father Prince Phillip. This move makes Edward's wife Sophie Wessex the Duchess of Edinburgh.

In the announcement from Buckingham Palace, Charles said he was "pleased" to pass on the title to his younger brother. One royal expert believes one word defines the "stark" differences in tone between the two statements and new titles in the Firm.

Royal expert and editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward said the difference between the announcements was "stark" with one word missing from Archie and Lilibet's. Speaking to The Mirror, she said: "The contrast between the way in which Harry and Meghan released the news of their children's royal titles and the way King Charles announced his brother's ennoblement was stark.

Harry and Meghan's eldest child, Archie can also be referred to as a Prince (GETTY)

"King Charles issued a formal statement from Buckingham Palace to say he was 'pleased' to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar. It was such a grand announcement it felt as if it were in a gilded frame pinned to the Buckingham Palace railings."

She continued: "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 baptised using the royal style Princess. Archie in turn would use the style, Prince."

Harry and Meghan are parents to three year old Archie and one year old Lilibet (Netflix)

Royal expert Ingrid added it was "interesting" the couple waited so long to announce Archie and Lilibet's new titles, and added she believes they were hoping Buckingham Palace would "jump the gun". She added: "They have been allowed to use this style since their great-grandmother died, but their parents have chosen not to until now.

"How interesting they waited six months to do this," she said.

Lilibet was christened in Los Angeles last weekend (Archewell/PA Wire)

"They were hoping the Palace would jump the gun and announce it before they did. No such luck. Buckingham Palace left its website intact and allowed the Sussexes to make the move themselves so they couldn't complain."

Ingrid continued: "It is so much easier to do things in the traditional style. Edward knew he was going to get the title as his late father had requested. The King bided his time until the moment was right. Edward's birthday two months before the coronation was the perfect moment.

"Beforehand might have been too close to the late Queen’s death on September 8 last year. Any later and it might have had to wait until the day of the Coronation.

The Sussex's with their son Archie and daughter Lilibet (HSH Alexi Lubomirski)

"The royal website was updated a couple of days after the Sussexes' announcement. No one is going to push the traditions of the Monarchy aside. Wanting the perks without the responsibility never works. Archie and Lilibet will learn this one day and then make their own choices."

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