While Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor may be the son of a prince, discover why this three-year-old's royal title is more complicated than you might think.&nbsp;

The English monarchy is no stranger to the spotlight. In recent years, all eyes have been on <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/meghan-markle-prince-harry-social-media-return-instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle</a>, the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/prince-harry-royal-family-rift-meghan-markle-life-in-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">royal family's</a> newest and youngest couple. Prince Harry and former actress Meghan Markle, who is now recognized as the Duchess of Sussex, wed in 2018 and had their first son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, in 2019. Quickly after Archie was born, the widely-followed couple formally stepped back from their position as "senior royals" in order to "carve out a progressive new role" within the monarchy. This came as a shock to many, especially those who fervently valued the traditional structure of the British royal family. The pair's unprecedented and highly criticized decision is informally referred to as "Megxit."&nbsp;

Last year, the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/major-moments-prince-harry-meghan-markle-oprah-winfrey-interview-royal-family-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Duke and Duchess of Sussex</a> joined <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/oprah-winfrey-viral-moments-gif-meme">Oprah Winfrey</a> for a candid discussion about their life as royals. The duo boldly unearthed many disheartening details about the family&rsquo;s response to their union. One detail that stood out among the rest is the fact that their son, Archie, was not given a true royal title. Under the George V declaration, all children that hail from a king or queen are dubbed as prince or princess. However, only the firstborn son of that prince or princess can possess the ability to pass along the title to their children. <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/prince-harry-unhappy-move-united-states-meghan-markle-royal-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prince Harry</a> is not the eldest son of King Charles and the late <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/princess-diana-documentaries-to-stream-netflix-hbo-royal-family" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Princess Diana</a>, so consequently, when Archie was born, he was not granted the opportunity to dub his son as a prince. According to the declaration, Archie's lack of title makes sense, but every dated rule has loopholes. In 2012, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/queen-elizabeth-young-photos-wedding-coronation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Queen Elizabeth II</a> decreed that all of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/prince-charles-william-support-harry-meghan-markle-miscarriage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prince William's</a> children would be princes and princesses, not solely his oldest son. This proved that the Queen can bend traditional rules and give members of the royal family specific titles due to her all-encompassing power.&nbsp;

During <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/megxit-how-prince-harry-meghan-markle-lives-changed-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prince Harry and Markle&rsquo;s</a> interview with Oprah, the couple uncovered some unsettling realities of the monarchy, most of which pointed to a sense of prejudice and the rejection of having a mixed-race family member. The couple alluded to the fact that there were problematic conversations about Archie's potential skin color before he was born. They also addressed the sobering reality that without the title of "prince," Archie would be granted no security by the monarchy. With so much press revolving around his life and the Duke and Duchess' relationship, this was a grave concern for the new parents.&nbsp;
However, Archie is not doomed to a completely titleless future. Now that <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/prince-charles-camilla-parker-bowels-royals-scandal-diana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">King Charles</a> is on the throne, Archie is eligible for princehood, as he is the son of a child of the monarch. However, the official royal family website still lists him as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, not prince.
For now, he gets to grow up in California, where his parents have set down roots for their post-royal life, with his sister Lilibet.&nbsp;

@SussexRoyal

Here's Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Son is Not a Prince

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Here's Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Son is Not a Prince

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