Meghan Markle isn’t the stereotypical soon-to-be princess.
The 36-year-old also isn’t the most conventional choice of woman to marry into the British Royal Family.
She is a divorcee, which was almost unheard of in the royal family, at least until Prince Charles wed Camilla Parker Bowles. He then miraculously remained in line for the throne.
Meghan also breaks royal protocol for her young fans, and has reportedly chosen nontraditional wedding gown designers in the form of Australian duo Ralph & Russo.
But come May 19, which is less than two months away (not that we’re counting), the former Suits actress will marry Prince Harry. With that, comes one simple question that has a complex answer.
What will Meghan’s official royal title be once she and Prince Harry are wed?
Once married to Harry, Meghan will adopt her husband’s name and title, thus becoming Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales.
What. A. Mouthful.
She will be called Princess Henry, as Harry’s actual name is Henry Charles Albert David. However, he is familiarly and popularly known by his nickname, Harry.
Technically however, Meghan will not officially be a princess and can not ever become one.
Even though she is marrying the fifth-in-line to the throne, you can only hold the title of ‘Princess’ if you are born into the royal family, such as Princess Charlotte or Princess Beatrice.
And yes, if you like making comparisons between soon to be sister-in-law Kate Middleton and Meghan, Meghan will also probably have a duchess title once the pair are married.
LISTEN: Meghan Markle had to go to ‘kidnap training’. (Post continues below…)
Around the time of the wedding, Queen Elizabeth will most likely grant Prince Harry a dukedom (Duke of Sussex is the rumour), so potentially, Meghan will become Duchess of Sussex.
As for their children, should they have any, they will be lord (boy) or lady (girl) as only the eldest son’s children are bestowed with prince or princess titles at birth.
And that’s as much as we’ll know until after the wedding.
For everything Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the Royal Wedding, visit our Royal Wedding hub.
Top Comments
Mostly right. Although I'm not sure why you're bothering to explain when this site and pretty much every other will still incorrectly refer to her as Meghan Markle post wedding, just like with the Duchess of Cambridge.
One of the Queen's aunts-in-law, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, received permission from the Queen to be referred to as Princess Alice after her husband died, rather than be the Dowager Duchess of Gloucester. So it is possible for an in law to be referred to as a princess, but very unlikely.
Also, any kids will only be lord/lady while the Queen is still alive. It's also possible the Queen will make the decision for them to be Prince/Princess given they will be grandchildren of the next sovereign and get a title bump then anyway.
Fully agree re your last point - just look at Andrew & Fergie's (Duke & Duchess of York's) daughters, Princesses both of them.
Ally, you seem to understand this. It says in the article that "only the eldest son's children" are given prince/princess titles at birth. But weren't Beatrice and Eugenie (daughters of a second son) given the title of princess? (Also, the Queen was Princess Elizabeth - father was second son.) Are you able to explain?
That's wrong - it depends how far away they are from the sovereign. Prior to George/Charlotte, all children of the sovereign are prince/princess and male line grandchildren are prince/princess (ie children of the sovereign's sons). If Princess Anne's first husband had been given a title, their kids would have been lord/lady according to his title, similar to Princess Margaret's husband being given an earldom and their kids being Lord/Lady as non-male line grandchildren of a king.
Beatrice and Eugenie are male line grandchildren of the Queen, therefore they get the princess title. Edward's kids should technically be prince/princess as well, but he asked to be made an earl on the understanding he'd eventually get the duke of edinburgh title and asked that his kids be styled as the kids of an earl rather than of a prince.
New letters patent had to be issued for George and Charlotte to be prince/princess as they were great grandchildren of the sovereign and therefore not covered previously - they would have been lord/lady otherwise. Harry's kids are currently not covered either, so the Queen would need to issue another letters patent to allow them to be prince/princess.
Thanks for that. Talk about complicated!
She will be a Princess. She will be The Princess Henry. Rather than a Princess of the blood, such as the York girls. Their children will be styled as children of Duke unless the Queen issues new Letters Patent (like she did before George's birth) changing it. They also become Princes/esses in the event Charles ascends the throne.
Yes, princess by rank but not title, as a royal duke title is higher than Prince Harry's current title of Prince Henry of Wales so she'll be referred to as HRH the Duchess of whatever they pick.