Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Children Archie and Lilibet Will Now Use Their Royal Titles

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, are now using their official royal titles. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed to People that Lilibet was christened “Princess Lilibet Diana” on March 3, 2023, so the Sussex’s children will now be referred to as Prince Archie and Princess Lili. Based on royal protocol that King George V established in 1917, the monarch’s grandchildren can become princes or princesses. This means that Archie and Lili were entitled to use their royal titles since September of 2022 when their grandfather, Charles, became king after Queen Elizabeth II’s death. Since Meghan and Harry stepped down from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, no one knew whether the couple would want Archie and Lili to possess their royal status. It wasn’t until after Lili’s christening that the Sussexes used their daughter’s royal title for the first time. To accurately reflect the title changes, Buckingham Palace said it will soon update its official website.

Harry and Meghan’s children weren’t born with their titles because they were great-grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II, who was the monarch at the time. Instead, they were born “Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor” and “Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.” According to People, Archie could have inherited the “courtesy title” of Earl of Dumbarton when he was born, but his parents didn’t give him a courtesy title at the time. During Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in March of 2021, the duchess said there were conversations around Archie’s title before his birth. “They were saying they didn't want him to be a prince or princess, which would be different from protocol, and that he wasn't going to receive security," she explained. "This went on for the last few months of our pregnancy where I was going, 'Hold on for a second.’” Meghan added that she would have given Archie a title if it guaranteed his safety. Since Prince William is heir to the throne, his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have always used their royal titles.

Some members of the royal family have turned down royal titles for their children. For instance, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth’s daughter, didn’t want her children, Peter and Zara, to be called “prince” or “princess.” Phil Tindall—the father of Zara’s husband, Mike Tindall—said it was a wise decision because it allowed Peter and Zara to have their independence. “Zara always says she's so pleased she wasn't given a title," Phil told the Sunday Times. Prince Edward and Countess of Wessex Sophie made the same decision for their children, Lady Louise and James. “We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living," Sophie told Times of London. “Hence, we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it's highly unlikely."

Confirmation to use Archie and Lili’s royal titles comes after the Sussex’s daughter was christened. People reports that the couple held an intimate christening for Lili at their home in Montecito, California, on March 3, 2023. Archbishop of Los Angeles, Reverend John Taylor, baptized the princess. According to the outlet, the royal couple invited about 20 to 30 family members, including Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, and Lili’s grandfather, Tyler Perry. A source said Meghan and Harry asked Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, William, and Kate to attend, but none of them were present for the ceremony.

Archie’s christening, which took place on July 6, 2019, was a similar size and was also private in nature. The event included about 25 close friends and family members. The couple released a family portrait from the gathering, and the image confirms that Charles, Camilla, Kate, William, Doria, and Princess Diana’s sisters—Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes—attended. The royals posted the photo to their joint Instagram account, along with the caption, “This morning, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was christened in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle at an intimate service officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby."