Will Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor Have a Royal Title?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have welcomed their second child, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, into the world. Lili is currently the eighth in line to the throne of the United Kingdom, after her brother, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Lili’s life, on the other hand, will be quite different from those of her royal ancestors. For starters, she was born in Santa Barbara, California, which is also where her parents now reside. Her parents have also chosen to stand down from their formal royal duties, which means that their children’s lives will be slightly distanced from the royal family’s professional obligations.

All of these developments may have an effect on Lili’s royal title and whether or not she decides to use one at all. Titles (such as Prince, Princess, or Her Royal Highness) are determined by a variety of criteria, including gender and generation, as well as personal choice. T&C talked with a few royal specialists to get the answers to some of Lili’s most pressing concerns regarding her future title.

Is there a title for Lili now?

Lili is presently without a title. Her parents didn’t use a title in her birth announcement, and her brother, Archie, doesn’t use one either. However, it seems that this is more of a personal decision than a matter of royal etiquette. Archie, for example, is legally entitled to the title of Earl of Dumbarton, but his parents have chosen not to use it.

Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Archie, photographed while Meghan was pregnant with Lilibet. PHOTO BY MISAN HARRIMAN, COPYRIGHT OWNED BY THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX © 2021
Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Archie, photographed while Meghan was pregnant with Lilibet.
PHOTO BY MISAN HARRIMAN, COPYRIGHT OWNED BY THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX © 2021

“As the daughter of a Duke, [Lili] was allowed to use the courtesy title Lady before her name, just as Archie was entitled to use Earl of Dumbarton. When Harry and Meghan revealed their children’s names to the public, they decided not to use these styles for either of their children “Victoria Murphy, a contributing editor at T&C and a royal specialist, said: “It was generally assumed when they did this for Archie that they wanted him to have a normal life and were avoiding the formality that a title may entail.”

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When Prince Charles becomes King, would she be given a title?

According to royal analyst Victoria Arbiter, Lili will be able to be styled as an HRH (Her Royal Highness) with the titular status of Princess attached to her name once Prince Charles is king, provided his reign succeeds Queen Elizabeth’s. Archie would be styled as a Prince in such scenario.

“Depending on when that is, Charles, William, and the Sussexes will likely have a conversation about whether or not they want Lili to be recognized as a princess,” Arbiter added. “She would become HRH Princess Lilibet of Sussex, identical to HRH Princess Beatrice of York and HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, if they agreed.”

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are styled as HRH now, while Prince Harry’s children will not have that option until Prince Charles is king.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are styled as HRH now, while Prince Harry’s children will not have that option until Prince Charles is king.

When Charles becomes king, Archie and Lili will be given the titles of Prince and Princess due to their distance from the current monarch as well as their gender—the two children will be the monarch’s grandchildren rather than great-grandchildren, and they will both be male descendants.

Murphy elaborated on this history: “King George V restricted royal titles inside the royal family, thus if Harry were female, [Archie and Lili] would not be eligible to these titles when Charles became king, since they would have been grandkids along the female line. They will, however, be grandkids along the male line. They are not yet entitled to the titles of Prince and Princess since they are great-grandchildren of the sovereign (which they are).”

Given how Prince Edward’s children are groomed, royal analyst Marlene Koenig does not think Archie and Lilibet would ever use the titles of Prince and Princess. Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, are the children of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Louise and James, according to Koenig, should be called Princess and Prince since they are male-line grandchildren of the queen (the same status Lilibet and Archie would have if Charles is king). However, on the day of Edward and Sophie’s wedding, the Queen determined that their children would be styled as the offspring of an Earl rather than a Prince, restricting the use of the HRH titles even more.

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Prince Edward’s children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, are styled as the children of an Earl rather than a Prince. Therefore, they are not a Prince and Princess.
Prince Edward’s children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, are styled as the children of an Earl rather than a Prince. Therefore, they are not a Prince and Princess.

What will happen when Prince William becomes King?

If William’s reign is similar to his father’s, Lilibet will keep whatever title she gets after Charles is king, according to Arbiter. “Whatever choice Charles and the Sussexes make now will be in place when William becomes king,” Arbiter added.

Will Lilibet’s offspring be given titles?

Because she was born into the monarchy’s male line, Lilibet is entitled to a title. Lili’s offspring, on the other hand, will be born on the female line and therefore will not have titles. The only exception would be if the monarch at the time Lilibet marries bestows a title on her husband. Then Lilibet’s children might inherit the same titles as their father. When Charles becomes king, he may change the rule, but Arbiter thinks he will not.

“Lilibet’s future offspring will not be eligible to titles under the 1917 Letters Patent since they will be born in the feminine line. The Letters Patent may be amended by Prince Charles, but given his desire to simplify the monarchy, this is unlikely “The arbiter said. “He or William (depending on who is king at the time) could bestow a title on Lili’s future spouse, in which case their children would follow the rules relating to his title, although they’re more likely to follow the same pattern as Princess Anne and Princess Eugenie. August, Eugenie’s son, does not have a title, and neither do Anne’s children.”

Princess Anne’s children, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, do not have royal titles.
Princess Anne’s children, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, do not have royal titles.

One comment

  1. Darlita LaRie Stephens

    Her name is Sophia, not Lilibet and however it works is A-OK with me. As I said in a separate post on the topic of Royal titles and succession, that really is not of importance to me. While I respect Harry, the British Monarchy, and his heritage as a member of the Royal family….that’s not the reason I’m interested in him or the reason I’m happy that he’s the father of one (and maybe more) of my children. I’m happy that he’s pursing me, had our daughter created, and will be a permanent part of my life because I like him for the man he is…not his position in society, his status as a prince, or his wealth. To be completely blunt, I can make my own money….and a lot of it so I don’t need a man to take care of me financially. I like the way he thinks, I understand him, I understand why he is the way he is, our personalities are compatible, and I think he’s very handsome. I really like him. I think he’s a cool dude. THAT’S why I’m happy about him pursuing me. He also has a backbone and a mind of his own…which are things I also possess. If I didn’t feel this way about him, I’d be flattered by his interest, but would only be open to being friends and not anything romantic. So, yeah, however it works, is fine with me. I just want her and any other kids we have to be happy and to be able to pursue whatever interests/careers they want (when they leave the nest).

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