From the get-go, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been making their own royal rules, and they’re very different from that of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided not to welcome their first child at the Lindo Wing, opted for a unique and not traditionally royal name and chose to keep his christening private.
The ‘Fab Four’ as they’ve been dubbed, have also decided to go their separate ways, with Harry and Meghan starting their own royal household and splitting from the Royal Foundation. The result has sparked endless feud rumours, despite the fact the moves are more likely down to royal pecking order, with William second in line to the throne and Harry now sixth, meaning the brothers must just ‘prepare for their future roles.’
It would seem this is why the Queen made this one exception for William and Kate – but she won’t be doing the same for Harry and Meghan.
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Last month, baby Archie’s birth certificate made headlines as many were eager to find out what his official title would be. Turns out, the royal parents didn’t bestow any earldom or dukedom on their son, despite claims he might inherit his dad’s subsidiary title, Earl of Dumbarton, and many questioned whether or not he would be a prince.
So why did the Queen allow Archie’s cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to employ royal titles? In 2013, the Queen issued a decree granting titles to all three of William and Kate’s children. Previously, King George V issued a Letters Patent in 1917 to limit the use of royal titles to the children and grandchildren of the sovereign and the eldest son of the eldest son of the heir. This would have meant that Prince George would have been known as a prince, but Charlotte and Louis wouldn’t receive the same honour.
While this exception from the Queen might not extend to little Archie, it appears that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently happy to let their son grow up without a title and are hoping to give him as ‘normal’ an upbringing as possible.
WATCH: Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Release The First Photos From Archie’s Christening.