Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officiallyb stepped down as senior members of the British Royal family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex rarely fail to make the headlines. Post their Megxit in 2020, Harry and Meghan moved to their Montecito home in the USA where they have been leading a private life with their two children– Archie and Lilibet. The couple are no longer on royal duties, but they continue to hold onto their HRH (His or Her Royal Highness) titles. While they don’t use them in public anymore, reports have revealed that the couple still use their HRH designations privately. And it seems this royal connection isn’t just about themselves—it extends to their children too!Harry and Meghan’s two kids, Prince Archie, now 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, also technically have HRH titles. According to Town & Country, Prince Harry wants to leave the door open for his children to possibly return to royal life someday. Should Archie or Lilibet decide to take on royal duties when they’re older, their titles will already be in place. It’s all about keeping their options open, just in case they want to step into the royal spotlight their parents left behind.But it hasn’t been easy. A recent report from The Guardian revealed Harry’s efforts to secure U.K. passports for his children using not only the surname “Sussex” (which Meghan reportedly also wants to adopt), but also including their HRH titles. Archie’s original passport, issued after his 2019 birth, listed his name as Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, following the British Royal family’s tradition. But everything changed when King Charles ascended the throne in 2022, after Queen Elizabeth II’s death. That’s when both Archie and Lilibet officially became entitled to be called prince and princess.In March 2023, Harry and Meghan also publicly confirmed their decision to use those titles for their children. This announcement came right after Lilibet’s christening, with their spokesperson stating, “The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch.”
Meghan Markle shared a personal Instagram video to celebrate her daughter Lilibet’s fourth birthday on June 4, 2025. The clip, filmed in 2021, shows Meghan dancing to “The Baby Momma Dance” while awaiting Lilibet’s birth, with Prince Harry joining her in the hospital room. (Image: Instagram/Meghan Markle)
Still, behind the scenes, there was pushback. According to a source close to the Sussexes, there was a noticeable delay in issuing the passports. The insider claimed there was “clear reluctance” from palace circles, suggesting that King Charles didn’t want Archie and Lilibet to carry the HRH designations. And here’s why it matters: once those passports are issued, they would act as official legal proof of the children’s royal status.The Guardian reported that Harry insisted on keeping the HRH titles so his children could make their own choices in the future. Whether they choose a public life or prefer staying away from royal responsibilities, the decision would be theirs.Interestingly, the couple even considered changing their family surname altogether— to Spencer, in honour of Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. According to the report, the idea came out of sheer frustration. Harry reportedly discussed the change with his uncle, Earl Charles Spencer, who supported the idea but cautioned against it for legal reasons. In the end, Harry and Meghan settled on “Sussex,” in line with their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles granted by Queen Elizabeth when they married in 2018.The passport drama dragged on for nearly six months—way beyond the standard three-week processing timeline. Things finally moved forward after the couple’s lawyers wrote to the U.K. Home Office, threatening legal action in the form of a data subject access request. This would have potentially exposed internal communications explaining the delay. Not long after, the passports were finally issued.So, while Harry and Meghan might have left their royal life behind— they secretly do wish their children to embrace it someday, it seems. Well, looks like the Royal drama is far from over! The question now is: Will Archie and Lilibet ever embrace the roles they were born into? Only time will tell.
Sussexes To Return As Working Royals? Prince Harry’s HRH Title Plan For Children Laid Bare
