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Why Prince Harry and Meghan’s new titles are even confusing Buckingham Palace

<p>When Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announced they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family, a spanner was thrown into the works of a meticulously run Palace – one that is still having trouble smoothing out all the kinks.</p> <p>Buckingham Palace announced the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would be giving up not only their royal duties but the role of representing the Queen in a formal capacity and their HRH titles.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ld5OWnQ4N/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ld5OWnQ4N/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Duchess of Sussex (@sussex.meghan)</a> on Jan 21, 2020 at 6:41am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>When the statement was released, royals from the palace also verified that the pair would now be dubbed Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.</p> <p>However, as it would turn out, it is not as straightforward as it seems and according to a new report from<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-and-prince-harrys-titles-post-exit-have-sparked-confusion-even-among-royal-aides/" target="_blank">PEOPLE</a>,<span> </span></em>Palace experts are reviewing the new titles of Prince Harry and Meghan.</p> <p>According to latest sources, the new title involves both Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson who divorced from their royal spouses – Prince Charles and Prince Andrew – and as a result, were touted as Diana, Princess of Wales, and Sarah, Duchess of York.</p> <p>The issue is – there has not been any divorce between Prince Harry and Meghan so questions arise as to whether their new titles are in fact correct.</p> <p>While there's no sure answer yet as to what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s official titles will be moving forward, we can still refer to them as their Royal Highnesses until their transition period deadline of Spring 2020 is over.</p> <p>Prince Harry’s position in line to the throne has not changed and he remains sixth-in-line while his son, eight-month-old Archie is just behind his dad as seventh-in-line.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7krFoaioIY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7krFoaioIY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Meghan and Harry❤ (@meghan_and_harry)</a> on Jan 20, 2020 at 11:17pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Last Monday, Prince Harry attended the Sandringham Summit to discuss his and Duchess Meghan’s future with the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William.</p> <p>Following Kensington Palace announcing the new plans set in place for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry attended a private dinner for charity Sentebale and delivered a hearty and emotional speech.</p> <p>"It brings me great sadness that it has come to this," he told the room.</p> <p>"The decision I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly... Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible."</p> <p>He continued: "I've accepted this, knowing that it doesn't change who I am or how committed I am.</p> <p>"But I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life."</p> <p>Prince Harry is believed to be back in Canada with Meghan and Archie, where they plan to forge ahead with their new life away from the prying eyes of the British tabloids.</p>

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The royal rule for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's baby

<p>Now that Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s big baby news has been revealed, speculation has already turned to what title it will carry when it arrives in the northern hemisphere spring in 2019.</p> <p>You may think being bestowed the HRH (His or Her Royal Highness) title would be a mere formality in the Royal family, but just over 100 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II’s father King George V limited the use of the titles, reports <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/how-a-royal-rule-will-determine-if-meghan-and-harrys-baby-is-a-prince-or-princess/news-story/3b3f8ad43ef31c69b5d013c5e36db809" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. Only the Monarch, the Monarch’s children and grandchildren, and the Monarch’s eldest child’s first grandson could receive HRH status.</p> <p>The rule, and Queen Elizabeth II’s discretion, will decide if the upcoming baby will be a Prince or Princess. If they are not bestowed that title they will known as a Lord or Lady with the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.</p> <p>If Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have a son, he will be given the title of Earl of Dumbarton, one of the titles the Queen gave her grandson on his wedding day, according to peerage guide, Debrett’s.</p> <p>But if the bouncing baby is a girl, she will carry the name</p> <p>Lady Mountbatten-Windsor, and any subsequent sons, Lord Mountbatten-Windsor.</p> <p>So technically, under King George V’s decree, none of the couple’s children could legally be a Prince or Princess. It’s only Prince William and Duchess Kate’s first born son Prince George who legitimately fits the rule. Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis would otherwise be known as Lady Charlotte Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Louis Mountbatten-Windsor.</p> <p>But it all comes down to their great-grandmother’s discretion. The Queen made the decision to bestow the HRH titles to all of Prince William and Kate’s children in 2012. Prince George was born in 2013.</p> <p>It’s a good bet that the Queen will offer the same courtesy to Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s children. They’ll probably have the surname Sussex after the title bestowed on their parents.</p> <p>The happy couple’s first born will be the seventh in line to the throne, Prince Harry is the sixth.</p> <p>Would you like Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s baby to be given an HRH title? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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