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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Entertainment
Kyle O'Sullivan

Harry and Meghan 'using kids' royal titles to pay the bills', says suspicious TV host

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are 'using their kids' royal titles to pay the bills', an outspoken American TV host has claimed.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were not given HRH titles at birth due to their position in the line of succession, but now changes have been made after formal discussions too place with King Charles.

When the announcement came that one-year-old Lilibet has been christened, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan officially used the 'princess' title for the very first time.

The royal family's official website has been changed to reflect the Sussex kids' new title and a spokesman for the couple said: "The children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became Monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace."

But it's infuriated US presenter Megyn Kelly, a vocal critic of the couple, who has claimed Harry and Meghan's 'only currency is those titles'.

Outspoken presenter Megyn Kelly hit out at Harry and Meghan (Getty Images for Fortune)

In an interview with Sky New Australia, Kelly claimed that the Duke and Duchess' children having titles is only to help keep them relevant in the US.

Megyn slammed Meghan for "taking the tiara" to walk down the aisle but then choosing to "bash" the royals afterwards.

"This is the act of a couple who understands their only currency is those titles. That's all they have to pay the bills and make themselves interesting," she ranted last week.

She also told host Paul Murray that she believes the couple's drop in popularity was a key factor in the decision.

"Their approval ratings are through the floor, they went down even lower in America and in the UK, over the past couple of months," Megyn said.

She added: "Calling your kid prince and princess ain't gonna help."

Archie and Lilibet are now listed as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex on the official royal website.

Meghan and Harry have decided to use their kids' titles (AFP via Getty Images)

They previously they featured on the line of succession page as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.

Lilibet's title was first used earlier this month when it was announced that she had been christened at their home in California.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's spokesman said: "I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor."

Whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children receive titles has always been a major talking point, and grew in interest after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

When Lilibet was born in June 2021 she was the great-grandchildren of the Monarch, so wasn't eligible for a title just like her older brother and cousins.

However, the late Queen stepped in to change the rules for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis because Prince William and Kate Middleton's eldest will be king one day.

Archie and Lilibet have new titles now (alexilubomirski/Instagram)
Princess Lilibet was christened (Misan Harriman/Duke and Duchess of Sussex HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Because Harry is less senior than his brother, having famously referred to himself as the 'Spare', it didn't apply to his children.

However, Lilibet became entitled to become a princess when her grandfather King Charles acceded to the throne in September last year.

With Charles understood to have long desired a stripped-back monarchy with a reduced number of working royals as well as royal titles, the titles of the Sussex kids were always up in the air.

In their Oprah Wainfrey interview in 2021, Meghan said that the Royal Family discussed changing the protocol in order to keep Archie from acquiring the royal title.

Do you think Harry and Meghan are right to use Archie and Lilibet’s titles? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

During the tell-all interview she told Winfrey: "In those months, when I was pregnant, all around this same time, we had in tandem the conversation of he won't be given security, he won't be given a title, and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin will be when he's born."

It was understood that Harry and Meghan did not want to deny their children their birth-right, but let them decide themselves once they were old enough.

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