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This Is Why Baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor Doesn't Have A Royal Title

This Is Why Baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor Doesn't Have A Royal Title

It's all down to old official royal rulings.

Rachel Andrews

Rachel Andrews

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor to the world yesterday, although many were left wondering why the newborn doesn't have a royal title and will instead go by 'master' when needed.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's boy won't have a 'prince' title like his cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and it is in part down to an old excerpt defining royal rules from when Prince George V in around 1917.

"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," said the royal back then.

PA

Put simply, because Prince Harry is the second son of the current Prince of Wales (Prince Charles), his children aren't necessarily guaranteed a prince or princess title.

His children are too far down the line of succession to be a His of Her Royal Highness by birth. Master Archie is seventh in line from the throne, meaning it's unlikely he'll ever rule.

As it stands the royal succession is as follows - Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry and Master Archie. The Duke of York, Princess Beatrice then Princess Eugenie follow.

PA

However, Prince Harry's grandma and Archie's great grandma, Queen Elizabeth II, could step in and make the latest addition to the royal family a prince.

Archie takes the surname of his great-grandfather, Prince Philip (the Duke of Edinburgh), which he was actually not allowed to give his own children. Fittingly, Harrison means 'son of Henry'.

There were other options for a title but it seems like the new parents have decided not to go down this route either.

PA

Master Archie could have been the Earl of Dumbarton, as that is one of his dad's titles, or been Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, but Harry and Meghan haven't chosen either of those.

Royal experts believe that this is down to Harry and Meghan wanting their son to lead a more normal life, which his dad did not have growing up.

Royal author Penny Junor said: "It's exactly what I would have expected from Harry. He would have dearly liked to have been a normal boy growing up and found his title very difficult. I think that his choice for his son is to let him have the kind of life that he didn't have."

Other members of the royal family who do not have titles, including Zara Phillips, have previously said that not being a 'prince' or 'princess' turned out to be a "blessing".

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Celebrity News, Royal Family, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle