Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, 2019. As the first grandchild of Prince Charles and seventh in line to the British throne, Archie’s place in the royal family has sparked much discussion around whether he would receive a royal title.
Does Archie have a royal title?
No, Archie does not have a royal title. Upon his birth, he was formally styled “Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor” rather than being given the title of a prince. As the great-grandchild of the reigning British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, Archie could have potentially been given the title of prince at birth. However, his parents chose not to use a courtesy title for Archie.
Why doesn’t Archie have a prince title?
There are a few key reasons why Archie does not have a royal title:
Harry and Meghan’s preference
When Archie was born, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Harry and Meghan had chosen not to use a courtesy title for their son. The couple indicated they wanted Archie to have as normal a life as possible, without the pressure or expectations that can come with a royal title. This precedent had been set by Princess Anne, who declined royal titles for her children.
Rules around royal titles
The rules around inheriting royal titles were laid out in the 1917 Letters Patent by King George V. This decree limited the use of HRH prince/princess titles to the children of the monarch, the children of the monarch’s sons, and the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.
As the great-grandson of the Queen, Archie did not automatically inherit the right to be a prince. The Queen would have needed to issue a new Letters Patent to make an exception for Archie.
Archie’s place in the line of succession
Archie is seventh in line to the throne, behind his father Prince Harry. Only individuals close to the succession inherit the title of prince or princess. Since Archie is quite far down in the line of succession, he was unlikely to receive a princely title based on proximity.
Could Archie ever receive a royal title?
It is possible, but unlikely, that Archie could receive a royal title later in life. Here are some scenarios where this could potentially happen:
If Prince Charles ascends the throne
When Prince Charles takes the throne, Archie’s grandfather could choose to issue a Letters Patent giving Archie the title Prince Archie. This is what the Queen did for Prince William when Prince Charles became heir apparent. However, given Harry and Meghan’s wishes for their son, this is improbable.
If Archie’s father becomes Prince of Wales
If Prince Harry eventually inherits the title Prince of Wales when Prince Charles becomes King, Archie would have the right to use the courtesy title Earl of Dumbarton. This lesser royal title may be more palatable to his parents.
If Archie marries into the royal family
In the unlikely event Archie marries a woman who holds a royal title, he may acquire a complementary royal title out of courtesy by virtue of his role as a royal spouse. However, this scenario is highly speculative given Archie’s young age.
Does Archie have security? What’s his last name?
While Archie does not have a royal title, he is still a member of the royal family. Here are some key points about his status:
Security
Archie is entitled to personal tax-payer funded security as the son of a duke and the grandson of the next in line to the throne. However, this became contentious when Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals but still wanted security for Archie in the United States. This remains an ongoing debate.
Last name
Archie took on Prince Harry’s surname and is known as Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. The royals do not typically use last names but Archie will use this name in school or other formal situations.
How does Archie’s title situation compare to other royal babies?
Looking at Archie in the context of other recent royal babies illustrates the inconsistencies around royal titles:
| Royal baby | Title | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor | Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor | Parents declined courtesy title |
| Prince Louis | His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge | Son of future monarch granted title |
| Princess Charlotte | Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge | Daughter of future monarch granted title |
| Prince George | His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge | Son of future monarch granted title |
This table shows that as the children of Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, Charlotte, Louis, and George received royal titles by default. Meanwhile, Archie, as the son of Prince Harry who is further from inheriting the throne, did not receive a title per his parents’ choice.
What title would Archie have received?
If Harry and Meghan had accepted a royal title for Archie, he would have been styled His Royal Highness Prince Archie of Sussex. Here is the rationale:
HRH Title
The style His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) is used for the children of sons of the monarch. Archie as Prince Harry’s son would have inherited the HRH title.
Prince Title
The substantive title of Prince comes from being a son of a Duke (Prince Harry’s Duke of Sussex title). Sons of Dukes are entitled to be Princes.
Of Sussex Designation
Any title would be connected to Prince Harry’s Duke of Sussex designation, making Archie “of Sussex” as Harry’s son.
So in full, Archie’s hypothetical royal title would have been His Royal Highness Prince Archie of Sussex.
Does this set a precedent for Harry and Meghan’s future children?
Yes, Archie not having a title does seem to set a precedent for any future children born to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Here is what we can expect:
No prince or princess titles
Any subsequent children will likely follow suit by not being given honorary royal titles at birth. This follows Harry and Meghan’s wishes for Archie to grow up without the pressure of being a prince.
Usage of Mountbatten-Windsor surname
Just like Archie, any future children will probably take on the last name Mountbatten-Windsor rather than have a royal title built into their name.
Possibility of using subsidiary titles
There is an outside chance that lesser courtesy titles could be an option. For example, when Prince Edward had a son, James, he gave him the title Viscount Severn instead of prince. Something along these lines could be possible for Harry and Meghan’s children.
No impact on place in line of succession
Regardless of having titles, any future children will still have their place in the line of succession as grandchildren of the heir apparent. Lack of a prince/princess title does not impact the line of succession.
Conclusion
In the case of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, he has foregone the use of a royal title, despite being the grandson of the Prince of Wales. This precedent was set by the preferences of his parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, for their son to have a normal life outside the confines of royal titles. Barring unforeseen circumstances, any future children born to the couple will likely follow the same format as Archie when it comes to titles. Ultimately, while many expected Archie to have a royal title based on tradition, Harry and Meghan have chosen their own path by declining a courtesy title. Their progressive approach to royal titles will likely shape Archie’s generation of the royal family for years to come.