By HRH Princess Eugene Majuru
Feature Prince William’s Children (George, Charlotte, Louis) Prince Harry’s Children (Archie, Lilibet)
Father’s Status Eldest son of the former Prince of Wales (and now the current Prince of Wales). Younger son of the former Prince of Wales.
Status at Birth Great-Grandchildren of the Sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II). Great-Grandchildren of the Sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II).
Title at Birth? YES. They all received titles immediately. NO. Archie was a Master; Lilibet was a Miss.
Why the Difference? Due to a 2012 Letters Patent issued by Queen Elizabeth II, which made an exception for all children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. Due only to the 1917 Letters Patent, which did not apply to them yet.
Title upon King Charles III’s Accession? Unaffected (already Prince/Princess). YES. Automatically became Prince/Princess due to the 1917 Letters Patent (they became grandchildren of the sovereign).
The Two Documents Explained
1. The Original Rule: The 1917 Letters Patent (King George V)
This is the document that governed all titles for decades. It states that the title of Prince/Princess and the style of HRH goes to:
The children of the Sovereign. (e.g., Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward)
The children of the sons of the Sovereign. (The male-line grandchildren, e.g., William, Harry, Beatrice, Eugenie)
The eldest living son of the eldest living son of the Prince of Wales (This was the only great-grandchild allowed a title at birth, which was Prince George).
Crucial Point: Under this original rule, only Prince George would have been a Prince at birth. Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis would have been styled as a Duke’s child (Lady and Lord) until their grandfather (King Charles III) took the throne.
2. The Exception: The 2012 Letters Patent (Queen Elizabeth II)
Before Prince George was born, Queen Elizabeth II wanted to ensure that any children of her grandson, Prince William (the future King), would have equal titles, regardless of gender.
She issued a new Letters Patent to override the 1917 rule specifically for the children of the Prince of Wales’s eldest son, declaring that all children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales would be styled HRH Prince or Princess.
This is why:
Prince George was a Prince at birth (original rule and new exception).
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were Princess and Prince at birth (due to the 2012 Exception).
Because Prince Harry is the younger son of the current King, his children (Archie and Lilibet) were not covered by Queen Elizabeth’s 2012 exception. They had to wait for their grandfather to become Sovereign for the 1917 Letters Patent’s main clause (grandchildren of the Sovereign) to take effect.
Prince Harry and children
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