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As reported earlier, Buckingham Palace announced that Meghan and Harry will now formally be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince Henry of Wales.”
“His titles will be Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and Ms Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex.”
So Meghan will be a duchess, not a princess. But what’s the difference?
According to Live Science, while a Duchess and a Princess are both royalty, and a Princess technically outranks a Duchess, the relationship between the two titles is not always clearly defined.
Historically speaking, Princesses are the daughters or granddaughters of a King or Queen. Though traditionally, a ‘commoner’ or a woman with no royal rank can still gain the title of Princess by marrying a Prince, with the possibility of later becoming a Queen.
Princess Diana was formally known as the Princess of Wales.
Similarly (but not quite the same), a Duchess is the wife of a Duke. So because Meghan is marrying Prince Harry, who is becoming a Duke, she is in turn a Duchess. Kate Middleton received the same ranking, as her official title is Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge.
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Top Comments
She was never going to be a princess, by way of not being royal by birth. It was always expected the couple would be bestowed a Duke/Duchess title on the wedding day. You didn't need to wait until today to know that.
Princess Diana wasn't royal by birth. So that can't be a rule.
That’s because Diana married the next in line to the throne. Prince Charles, Princess Diana. William and Harry are Dukes, but one would expect William to be made a prince once his father becomes King.
Not sure why my earlier comment wasn't published, but to explain: "Princess Diana" was actually never her title. She was "Diana, Princess of Wales", which is a honour title attached to being married to the Prince of Wales, but it didn't make her a princess in her own right. Camilla is the current Princess of Wales, but she doesn't use the title, nor does anyone ever call her "Princess Camilla", which is entirely correct. Birthright princesses (such as Princess Margaret) hold the title in their own right.
Formally, she is "Princess Henry, Duchess of Sussex" in the same way as the Duke of Cambridge's wife is "Princess William, Duchess of Cambridge".