Even though his three other grandchildren had their places updated in September, the King delayed for months before announcing that Archie and Lilibet would be addressed by their princely titles.
A world insider has suggested that the King made a PR blunder by delaying confirmation that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, Archie and Lilibet, could be known as Prince and Princess, while their older cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis had their positions updated shortly after the King’s ascension.
Archie and Lilibet’s new titles were only changed this week, despite being entitled to use them since September 22.
Confirmation of their new titles came as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that their 21-month-old daughter, Lilibet, had been christened last week.
An update on the royal family website followed a few hours later, with the children now referred to as Prince Archie of Sussex and Prince Lilibet of Sussex.
The insider argued that the King could have avoided much speculation about his relationship with the Duke and Duchess if the palace had updated their status along with everyone else’s.
If the titles had just been updated along with everyone else’s, there would be no story, they said.
Although Archie and Lilibet have now taken on the titles of Prince and Princess, they will not be given HRH status.
This is because their parents, Harry and Meghan, were told they would no longer be allowed to use their HRH status after stepping down as senior working royals.
Under a 1917 letters patent signed by King George, all of the grandchildren of a sovereign in the male line are confirmed the titles of Prince and Princess by right.
Archie and Lilibet had previously been known as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
Harry and Meghan said the titles belonged to Archie and Lilibet by birthright, a fresh statement confirming they would use them going forward, and they also appeared to suggest agreement had been struck with the King to regulate their use.
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 Duke and Duchess said.
The delaying in confirming titles led some royal commentators to suggest that the King was waiting for publication of Harry’s memoirs spare to make any announcement about Archie and Lilibet.
However, the children had been entitled to use their princely titles since Charles ascended the throne in September 2022.
And it remains unclear why there was a delay in updating the titles, but it has been fueled speculation about the King’s relationship with Harry and Meghan.
The couple has been vocal about their struggles with the media and royal establishment since their marriage in 2018 and their departure from royal duties in 2020.
The delay also highlights complexities of the British monarchy and its traditions.
While some argue the monarchy needs to adapt to the modern world, others believe its traditions should be preserved at all costs.
In any case, Archie and Lilibet are now officially known as Prince and Princess, and the palace has confirmed their status on its website.
Whether this will put an end to speculation about their relationship with the King and the rest of the royal family remains to be seen.
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