Featured Image Credit: Rasid Necati Aslim/ Getty Images /Samir Hussein/WireImage
Topics: Royal Family, Prince William, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Royal Family, Prince William, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry
Ever since Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down as senior members of the royal family, it's clear the public has been extremely keen on the fate of their two children; Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie.
Following intense media scrutiny and reported tensions within the royal family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced in January 2020 that they would 'step back' from being senior royals which soon prompted Buckingham Palace to state that the coupe would: no longer use HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles, stop receiving public funding and step down from official duties.
In April of that same year, Harry and Meghan - who had already welcomed Archie the year prior in 2019 - moved to to Los Angeles, California, and later settled in Montecito, Santa Barbara ahead of welcoming Lilibet to the family in 2021.
Now, in 2022, following Queen Elizabeth II's death, King Charles III ascended to the throne meaning that Archie and Lilibet gained 'prince/princess' status.
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However, the latest update in the saga sees Prince William reportedly make a pretty major decision on Archie and Lilibet's titles, which could now also impact multiple other members of the royal family too.
According to a report published by The Guardian, Harry wants his children to retain their HRH titles giving the pair the choice to potentially have royal roles in the future or lead more private lives.
However, last week (21 June), The Times reported in a piece tied with William’s 43rd birthday that there is 'bemusement in royal circles' at such idea, and that roles for six-year-old Archie and Lilibet, four, are unlikely under William’s reign.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Prince Harry said via PEOPLE: "We do not comment on private issues pertaining to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children.”
William's reported desires to have a smaller, more focused monarchy could also affect the likes of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
The pair of princesses are William's first cousins - both of which told HRH titles but don’t perform royal duties.
Therefore, if they remain inactive in official roles, it could mean that they face losing them.
Such a decision comes after a several months-long delay in Harry and Meghan obtaining UK passports for Archie and Lilibet, which some suspect is due to their HRH titles and 'Sussex' surname requests.
A source close to the Duke and Duchess also informed The Guardian this month that the couple had requested HRH be printed on their children's British passports, claiming this was 'so that when they grow older, they can decide for themselves whether they want to become working royals, or stay out of public life.'
GB News reports that the passport application is 'thought to have prompted the heir to the throne to take action' - however, this has not been confirmed by the Palace.
Tyla has reached out to Kensington Palace for comment.