The strange reason the British royal family go by completely different titles overseas.

Following the royal wedding, there were a few questions on everyone’s minds. What would Meghan Markle‘s style evolution look like? Where would the happy couple honeymoon? And, most importantly, what would their royal titles be?

While in England, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Prince William and Kate Middleton are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Once abroad, however, the titles of these royal couples curiously changes.

In a tweet last week, Kensington Palace brought this new information to everybody’s attention, writing that during his trips to Scotland Prince William is known as “The Earl of Strathearn”.

The Duke of Cambridge is attending engagements in Scotland today.

Did you know that The Duke is known as The Earl of Strathearn in Scotland? Find out more: https://t.co/SHlVOADDMO pic.twitter.com/JzzvPjVtkq

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 5, 2018

Similarly, Kate Middleton is known as The Countess of Strathearn in Scotland. However, when the couple visits Ireland, they are affectionately known as Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus – which really just rolls off the tongue.

When it comes to the newlyweds, their overseas titles ring a similar tone.

During their trips to Scotland, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are known as the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton, and during trips to Northern Ireland, they are Baron and Baroness Kilkeel.

The only royal who gets to keep the same title internationally is the Queen of England because… of course.

The reason for the completely different titles is because Scotland has, throughout time, had a different nobility system to England.

As for the children of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, if they choose to have them, they will not be royal at all in the official sense.

Thanks to a pesky royal family rule, the newlyweds’ kids won’t inherit the royal titles their cousins did.

A Letters Patent issued by King George V in 1917 stated that only the children, and grandchildren of the sons of any Sovereign in the direct male line will hold the titles of His/Her Royal Highness, and Prince and Princess.

In other words, there can only be three generations of royals with official HRH titles, and the third generation only if born to a Prince.

Prince William and Kate’s children are an exception to the rule because their father is directly in-line to the throne.

Prince Harry, however, won’t be King under predictable circumstances. Therefore, his children will take the titles Lord and Lady Mountbatten-Windsor instead.