Real reason why Princess Charlotte's children will never receive royal title

Princess Charlotte would have to ask for 'express permission' from the monarch for her children to have royal titles, according to a family tradition.

When 11-year-old Prince George inevitably becomes King, his children will automatically receive HRH titles, either prince or princess.

But the same can't be said for Princess Charlotte, despite her younger brother Prince Louis receiving the same gesture.

You might have guessed it would be something to do with their genders - and you would actually be correct.

An outdated royal family tradition means that Princess Charlotte's children will not receive the luxury of having royal titles without going to great lengths.

Princess Charlotte's children will not automatically receive HRH titles. (Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

As far back as historians can tell, royal titles are only handed down through males born into the family, and not females.

Etiquette expert Lucy Hume recently explained the tradition, for those who still can't get their heads around it.

Speaking to Town & Country, she said: "Royal titles are inherited through sons, so if Princess Charlotte has children they would not automatically inherit the titles HRH, Prince, or Princess."

However, there is of course a caveat to all of this.

The expert added that it would be possible for Charlotte to hand down the titles, if she received express permission from a monarch - which would either be her father, Prince William, when he ascends to the throne following King Charles' death, or her brother, Prince George, after that.

And it seems as though the late Queen Elizabeth did exactly that with her own children.

The Princess could seek the permission of the monarch in order to do so. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Her two eldest sons, Charles and Andrew, both passed down the titles 'Prince' and 'Princess' to their children - William, Harry, Beatrice, and Eugenie.

Interestingly, in the case of Queen Elizabeth's only daughter, Princess Anne, she actually turned down the royal titles for her two children.

When she and husband Captain Phillips welcomed children Peter and Zara, the late Queen did offer these grandchildren 'Prince' and Princess' titles.

Hume explained: "For Peter and Zara Phillips, the Queen offered to give them a royal title when they were born, but Princess Anne and Captain Phillips opted to decline this offer."

In an interview with Vanity Fair for her 70th birthday, Princess Anne spoke about why exactly the couple made the life-changing decision.

"It was probably the right thing to do," she noted.

"I think it was probably easier for them, and I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles."