The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby will not be a prince nor a princess unless the Queen steps in.
King George V – Harry’s great great grandfather – limited titles within the royal family in 1917.
This means Harry and Meghan’s first born, as a great-grandchild of the sovereign, is too far down the line of succession to be an HRH.
George V declared that: “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.”
The eldest son and heir apparent of a duke can use one of his father’s lesser grade peerage titles by courtesy, according to Debrett’s.
So a first son of Harry’s would become Earl of Dumbarton – one of the subsidiary titles Harry received from the Queen on the morning of his wedding.
A daughter would be Lady (first name) Mountbatten-Windsor, and any subsequent sons Lord (first name) Mounbatten-Windsor.
The baby’s title under present rules: Earl of Dumbarton – for first son; Lady (first name) Mountbatten-Windsor – for daughters; Lord (first name) Mountbatten-Windsor – any subsequent sons
But the Queen could make changes to allow Harry and Meghan’s children to be HRHs and princes and princesses.
Ahead of Prince George’s birth, the monarch issued a Letters Patent to ensure the Cambridge children had fitting titles.
Without this Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis would have been a Lady and a Lord instead, but Prince George, as the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, would still have been a prince.
The Queen could decide to do the same for Harry and Meghan’s baby.
But this royal infant is unlikely ever to accede to the throne.
The duke may heed the words of his cousin Zara Tindall when discussing such matters with the Queen, and deciding which titles his child should use.
Zara, who was born Miss Zara Phillips, has spoken of how not having a title was a blessing.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
