One bombshell revelation after another – Meghan and Prince Harry’s sit-down interview with Oprah was nothing short of shocking.
Arguably the most mind-blowing accusation was why their son Archie had been denied the title of “prince” by the royal family.
Meghan Markle suggested to Oprah that her son, who is formally known as Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was denied his birthright of having the title of Prince, or an HRH designation.
She said she was upset about the “idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren [Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are actually the Queen’s great grandchildren] would be.”
image: Instagram
The royal went on to imply that the reason behind not giving Archie a title came after “concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born”.
What made the situation even more delicate and personal to the Duchess of Sussex was the simple fact that their baby boy would not be provided with the same security that Prince William’s three children are.
“They didn’t want him to be a prince or princess…which would be different from protocol,” she said.
Archie’s birth in 2019 resulted a number of speculations made about the family, including that the couple were happy their son did not have a title, as it allowed him the opportunity for a normal life and to “grow up as a private citizen.”
However, Meghan says this wasn’t the case.
“It was not our decision to make,” she said.
“Even though I have a lot of clarity on what comes with titles, good and bad, and from my experience, a lot of pain, I, again, wouldn’t wish pain on my child, but that is their birthright to then make a choice about.”
There is a historical reasoning behind Archie not being declared a prince, and it stems all the way back to 1917 when King George V issued a “Letter Patent.”
It provided a strict protocol for how the children and grandchildren of a sovereign are titled.
He wrote: “The grandchildren of the sons of any such sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of dukes of these our realms.”
In laymen’s terms – the Queen’s children and grandchildren have the right to the title of Prince or Princess, and HRH.
Since Archie is the great-grandson of Archie, it means he is not entitled to either of those.
As Archie is a first-born son of a duke, Archie could have been Earl of Dumbarton.
It is one of the titles bestowed to Harry when he married Meghan, and the title he goes by when he visits Scotland.
The couple chose not to give him this title however, along with the title of Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
Eventually, Archie will be able to succeed Harry as the Duke of Sussex.
There is hope for the title of prince however, as when Charles becomes king, he could indeed bestow his grandson with the name if he chooses to do so.
