The question “Princess Lilibet?” has become a flashpoint in royal debate, but the reason Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now call son Archie and daughter Lilibet “Prince” and “Princess” is simple: under the rules of the British monarchy, that is their formal title once their grandfather, King Charles III, became sovereign. Archie and Lilibet are grandchildren of the reigning monarch through the male line, which automatically entitles them to the styles “Prince” and “Princess” under the 1917 Letters Patent issued by King George V.
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Before Charles’s accession, Archie and Lilibet were technically ineligible for the titles because they were great‑grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II. But when Charles took the throne in September 2022, their status shifted, and they quietly became Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex by right of birth. Buckingham Palace later updated the royal family website to reflect this, officially listing them as prince and princess in the line of succession.
Harry and Meghan have embraced the titles but have also stressed that the kids will use them primarily in formal and official settings, not in everyday life. In a 2023 statement clarifying the situation, the couple said the children’s titles have been a “birthright” since Charles became king and that the issue had been settled with the Palace, effectively ending the long‑running speculation about whether they would be deliberately downgraded because of the family rift.
Insiders argue that the couple’s decision to consistently use the royal styling is about protecting their children’s status within the monarchy, preserving their future options, and ensuring that Archie and Lilibet are treated as full members of the House of Windsor, even if they live abroad. The move also resolves Meghan’s earlier claim that there had been “talk” of denying Archie a princely title, turning that narrative into a closed chapter with the titles now officially and publicly confirmed.
So “Princess Lilibet” is not a boast—it is the correct royal designation. The real story is less about ego and more about rules, lineage, and the quiet restoration of Archie and Lilibet’s place in the royal structure, even as their parents live outside the formal institution.