What title will Harry and Meghan's baby hold?

Spoiler alert: It won't be prince or princess

The newest member of the royal family is here!

Baby Sussex, the first child of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was born early Monday morning.

Kensington Palace had officially announced the pregnancy in October 2018.

We don't have all the details on the little boy, but we do know where the bundle of joy will fall in the line of royal succession and what the child’s official royal title will be.

Though Harry and Meghan’s son won’t automatically receive a "prince" title, he will be seventh in line to the throne. And the only way the child’s position in line can change is if William and Kate have any more children.

Here’s why Harry and Meghan’s child won’t automatically be a prince:

King George V’s 1917 decree stated that only the oldest son of the Prince of Wales's oldest son was entitled to be styled His Royal Highness and a prince. In the current heir to the throne, we’d be referencing Prince George, William and Kate’s oldest son.

 

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However, you’ve likely heard Charlotte and Louis referred to as princess and prince, respectively. That’s because Queen Elizabeth issued new Letters Patent at the end of 2012 declaring that “all the children of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of Royal Highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour,” the official statement reads.

While that’s great for William and Kate’s children, that has no effect on Harry and Meghan’s. The ruling the queen gave in 2012 doesn’t apply to the newest royal baby — unless the queen steps in to issue Harry’s child a title.

It was reported earlier that if the baby were a boy, he would be known as Earl, and if were a girl, she will be known as Lady.


About the Author:

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.