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”.
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.
Top Comments
The Irish titles are when they visit Northern Ireland- Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, has no nobility.
There is no such title as Lord or Lady Mountbatten-Windsor. Any children of Harry and Meghan will be Lord (first name) Mountbatten-Windsor or Lady (first name) Mountbatten-Windsor. But I would expect the Queen to 'advance' them to the status that they will automatically get when their grandfather becomes king. However it is possible that Harry and Meghan might wish to follow the lead set by the Earl and Countess of Wessex in declining HRH Prince/Princess for their children which is why their daughter is know as Lady Louise Windsor.