The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have declared that it was their children’s “birthright” to be called prince and princess.
Harry and Meghan revealed that the matter had been “settled for some time” with King Charles.
It is understood the King reassured them in a private conversation after the Queen’s funeral that their children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, would be permitted to use the titles.
A spokesman for Harry and Meghan said in a statement on Thursday morning: “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.”
The royal family’s official website was then updated to reflect the children’s new titles, Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Previously the siblings, who are sixth and seventh in line to the throne, were Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
They became a prince and princess on the accession of their grandfather six months ago, but the Sussexes publicly used the title for Lilibet for the first time on Wednesday when announcing her christening.
The spokesman for the couple said: “I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3, by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor.” The christening took place at the family’s £11 million home in Montecito, California. The use of the titles is being seen as an olive branch from Charles following the fallout from Harry’s autobiography Spare.
The book was highly critical of members of the royal family, including Camilla, and lifted the lid on Harry’s fractious relationship with his brother William and the King. It had previously been claimed that Harry and Meghan feared the King might bar the children from becoming prince or princess after the Sussexes quit royal duties and moved to the US.
However, royal sources said Charles would never have “punished” his grandchildren in this way. It is understood there had been correspondence on the title issue between Harry and Meghan and royal aides, with a personal assurance given by the King that the children would be allowed to be prince and princess. While it is understood the titles will be used in formal settings, it is believed they will not be in everyday use by the couple. They are understood to be keen not to deny their children their birthright but will allow them the chance to decide for themselves when they are older whether they want to drop or keep using the titles.
Meghan appeared to suggest in the couple’s interview with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that Archie was not given the title of prince because of his race. However, royal experts pointed out that although he was a great-grandchild of the monarch, he was not a first-born son of a future king and so at that stage was not automatically a prince.
After the Queen’s death on September 8 last year, Archie and Lilibet gained an automatic right to be called prince and princess, with King Charles giving official approval. A source told the Mirror: “The appropriate conversations took place ahead of Lilibet’s christening.” Up to 30 guests were at the ceremony, including Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland. Lilibet’s godfather is filmmaker Tyler Perry. The couple broke with tradition by holding the baptism in the US, with royal babies normally christened in a Church of England church.
Royal journalist Omid Scobie, who is close to the Sussexes, reported that “King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate were invited but didn’t attend”
