The Queen‘s death at Balmoral Castle on September 8 triggered a series of changes to the titles of senior royals – including for both the Cambridges and the Sussexes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, will become a prince following the death of the Queen – a title which Meghan controversially claimed was previously denied to him because of his race.
His younger sister, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Mountbatten-Windsor, will also be a princess following the death of the Queen and with her grandfather, the Prince of Wales, becoming King.
The rules set out by King George V in 1917 would normally mean Archie and Lili – as the children of a son of a sovereign – would have an HRH style if they choose to use it.
But a royal expert said they may not be granted HRH titles because they will not be working royals.
Meanwhile the Cambridges also saw big changes. Charles has officially made William and Kate the Prince and Princess of Wales – as the couple also inherited the Duchy of Cornwall after he was made King.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor is now technically a prince due to rules set out by King George V in 1917. The family are pictured for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Christmas card in 2021
When William becomes the Prince of Wales Kate will become the Princess of Wales (pictured on June 23) – last used by William’s mother, Diana, when she was married to Charles
William and Kate’s children have become Prince George of Cornwall and Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cornwall and Cambridge, and Prince Louis of Cornwall and Cambridge (pictured together on September 7). They will eventually become ‘of Wales’ when William is the Prince of Wales
The Queen granted King Charles the title Prince of Wales in 1958. The title was last used by William’s mother, Diana, when she was married to Charles.
Camilla was also technically the Princess of Wales but never used the title because of its association with Diana.
Kate also holds the title the Countess of Chester, after William became the Earl of Chester. She is also now the Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland – previously Camilla’s title.
William and Kate’s children Prince George, Princess Charlotte of Cornwall and Prince Louis have also become ‘of Wales’ as William became the Prince of Wales.
Similarly, Harry and Meghan’s children will now, for the first time, become Prince and Princess.
During the couple’s explosive Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan Markle described her ‘pain’ as she claimed officials had denied Archie the title of prince and accused Buckingham Palace of failing to protect him by denying him 24/7 security.
When asked if it was ‘important’ for Meghan that Archie be called a prince, she said she doesn’t have any attachment to the ‘grandeur’ of official titles.
But she said it was about ‘the idea of our son not being safe, and also the idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be.’
In 2021, it was suggested Charles – in a bid to limit the number of key royals – intended, when he became monarch, to prevent Archie becoming a prince.
To do so, he will have to issue a Letters Patent amending Archie’s right to be a prince and Lili’s right to be a princess.
Until that potentially happens or if it does not, Archie and Lili remain a prince and princess, whether their parents choose to use the titles or not.
Meghan argued in the Sussexes’ bombshell interview with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey that Archie was not given the title of prince because of his race.
When Archie was born he was too far down the line of succession for such a title according to George V’s restrictions, but now, as the son of a son of a sovereign, he can be an HRH and a prince
During the explosive Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan Markle described her ‘pain’ that officials had denied Archie the title of prince and accused Buckingham Palace of failing to protect him by denying him 24/7 security
However, when Archie was born seventh in line to the throne in May 2019, he was too far down the line of succession.
What is the George V convention?
In 1917, the Queen’s grandfather issued new letters patent that limited the number of royal family members with an HRH title.
These stated that ‘the children of any Sovereign of these Realms and the children of the sons of any such Sovereign and the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales shall have and at all times hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness with their titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their respective Christian names or with their other titles of honour’.
In 1917, the Queen’s grandfather issued new letters patent that limited the number of royal family members with an HRH title
This means that when Prince Charles became King, his grandchildren – including Archie – automatically became princes or princesses.
It was also decreed that ‘grandchildren of the sons of any such Sovereign in the direct male line … shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of Dukes of these Our Realms’ (i.e., Lord or Lady before their Christian name).’
In addition the letters stated ‘save as aforesaid the style title or attribute of Royal Highness, Highness or Serene Highness and the titular dignity of Prince or Princess shall not henceforth be assumed or borne by any descendant of any Sovereign of these Realms.
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Although he was a great-grandchild of the monarch, he was not a first-born son of a future king, so was not automatically a prince.
He could have previously used the courtesy title Earl of Dumbarton, or been Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
But Buckingham Palace said the duke and duchess made a personal decision that he should be plain Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor instead.
A royal source said following Archie’s arrival that the couple had chosen not to give him a courtesy title ‘at this time’.
Meghan told Oprah that, when she was pregnant with Archie, an unnamed member of the royal family had raised ‘concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born’.
The Sussexes stopped using their own HRH styles after stepping down as senior working royals for a life in Los Angeles, and there were later calls for their duke and duchess titles to be removed.
Harry has always spoken about the burden of having a title.
He repeatedly stressed the importance of wanting to be seen as normal and confessed in 2017 that he once ‘wanted out’ of the royal family – a wish that became a reality in 2020.
The former soldier said the time he spent in the Army, when he was ‘just Harry’, was ‘the best escape I’ve ever had’ and he had considered giving up his title.
Royal author Penny Junor said: ‘He would have dearly liked to have been a normal boy growing up, and found his title very difficult.’
The duke is close to his cousins, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, and may have taken their experiences on board.
Junor added: ‘He looked at Zara and Peter and it was so much easier for them than for him.
‘He was constantly the centre of attention. His friends were targeted whenever he did anything wrong or misbehaved in any way.
‘We knew nothing about Zara or Peter when they were growing up because they were ordinary children going to ordinary schools and were not being treated in any special way.’
Zara, who grew up as Miss Zara Phillips, was not entitled to be an HRH because she was born in the female line as the offspring of the daughter of a sovereign.
She has spoken of how not having a title was a blessing.
‘I’ve been very lucky. My parents didn’t give us titles, so we’ve been able to have a slightly more normal upbringing. As soon as you’ve got a title, it’s very difficult to shed it,’ she said.
Affectionately called ‘Granny’ and ‘Gan-Gan’, the monarch enjoyed a close bond with the younger generation of royals. Pictured this snap, taken at Balmoral Castle in 2018 by the Duchess of Cambridge, shows the Queen and the late Duke of Edinburgh sitting alongside seven of their great-grandchildren left-right: Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Savannah Phillips (behind), Isla Phillips holding Lena Tindall and Mia Tindall
The Queen, pictured on September 6 meeting Liz Truss at Balmoral, died two days later at the age of 96
The Earl and Countess of Wessex’s daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, and son, Viscount Severn, as the children of the son of a monarch, were allowed to be known as princess and prince.
But Edward and Sophie, with the Queen’s permission, decided to use the courtesy titles of an earl instead.
Meghan said she and Harry wanted Archie to be a prince so he would have security and be protected.
But being a prince or princess does not automatically mean royals have police bodyguards paid for by the taxpayer, and the Sussexes have chosen to live in the US.
Archie is technically history’s first Prince of Sussex and Lili the first Princess of Sussex.
The previous 19th century Duke of Sussex – an eccentric son of King George III – had both his marriages deemed illegal.
Charles, who was the Prince of Wales, is now King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Camilla is, as the wife of the King, the Queen (Consort) (pictured together attending Thanksgiving on June 3)
The Queen and her grandson Prince William watch the annual Braemar Gathering in Scotland in September 2005
Prince George looking at his great grandmother Queen Elizabeth II from the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the end of the Platinum Pageant in London
Charlotte joined her parents and the Queen on a number of royal occasions during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, including Trooping the Colour (pictured)
His mistress, Lady Augusta Murray, was not the Duchess of Sussex and his illegitimate son was plain Master Augustus Frederick d’Este.
Lady Augusta did, however, continually refer to herself as a duchess and a princess, and staff called her son Prince Augustus and her daughter Princess Augusta. Eventually Archie will be entitled to succeed Harry as the Duke of Sussex.
Meanwhile, Charles, who was the Prince of Wales, is now King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He is also King of Commonwealth realms.
His style is His Majesty rather than His Royal Highness. Charles is also Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. He is now the Duke of Lancaster.
Camilla is, as the wife of the King, the Queen. Her style is Her Majesty rather than Her Royal Highness. She is a Queen Consort, as was the Queen Mother, rather than a Queen Regnant who rules in her own right, such as Elizabeth II.
Pillar boxes, cash, stamps, police helmets, passports. So much will be different under King Charles III… and even QCs will become KCs
By David Wilkes for the Daily Mail
After 70 years on the throne, we have all become accustomed to seeing the Queen‘s image on everyday items such as bank notes, coins and stamps.
But following her death, they will have to be changed to feature portraits of the new King, Charles III.
British currency won’t be replaced overnight, however. It could take years, as new coins and notes are created with the face of the King and the older ones are gradually removed from circulation.
Another change will be that while the Queen’s image faces to the right on coins, new ones will show the King facing left. This is due to a tradition dating from the 17th century to alternate the way successive monarchs are facing. The Queen’s coins did not appear until 1953 – the year after her accession.
The new coins and notes will need to be designed and minted, or printed. Then The Royal Mint advisory committee must send recommendations for new coins to the Chancellor and obtain royal approval. Designs are then chosen and the final choices approved by the Chancellor and then the King.
British currency won’t be replaced overnight. It could take years, as new coins and notes are created with the face of the King and the older ones are gradually removed from circulation
Another change will be that while the Queen’s image faces to the right on coins, new ones will show the King facing left
Australian coins and the $5 banknote are set to be updated to feature King Charles following the death of the Queen at age 96 (pictured is a mocked-up version of the 20 cent coin)
UK passports will be issued in the new King’s name and their wording changed at some point. Her Majesty’s Passport Office will become His Majesty’s Passport Office
A change in matters of law is that barristers and solicitors appointed by the monarch will see their title switch from Queen’s Counsel (QC) to King’s Counsel (KC)
Stamps also depict an image of the Queen and new ones will have to be created featuring the face of the King, again with the current ones phased out gradually. Charles may have already sat for such sculptures or portraits, and he will again have to approve the designs.
Royal Mail postboxes bearing the Queen’s ER cypher (for ‘Elizabeth Regina’, the Latin for Queen) are unlikely to be removed – in fact, some emblazoned with the Queen’s father King George VI’s GR (‘George Rex’, Latin for King) cypher can still be seen today. But any new postboxes could feature the new King’s emblem.
And in criminal court cases, the R to denote the Crown now stands for Rex rather than Regina. Another change in matters of law is that barristers and solicitors appointed by the monarch will see their title switch from Queen’s Counsel (QC) to King’s Counsel (KC).
Meanwhile, the words to the National Anthem now change to ‘God save our gracious King’.
Military medals featuring the Queen’s effigy will need to be altered, while police and military uniforms bearing the Queen’s cypher are likely to be updated over time with the new King’s cypher – the monogram impressed on royal and state documents. The Queen’s ERII features on traditional police helmets.
UK passports will be issued in the new King’s name and their wording changed at some point. Her Majesty’s Passport Office will become His Majesty’s Passport Office, as is the case with HM Armed Forces and HM Prison Service.
Police and military uniforms bearing the Queen’s cypher are likely to be updated over time with the new King’s cypher – the monogram impressed on royal and state documents. The Queen’s ERII features on traditional police helmets
Stamps also depict an image of the Queen and new ones will have to be created featuring the face of the King, again with the current ones phased out gradually
Royal Mail postboxes bearing the Queen’s ER cypher (for ‘Elizabeth Regina’, the Latin for Queen) are unlikely to be removed – in fact, some emblazoned with the Queen’s father King George VI’s GR (‘George Rex’, Latin for King) cypher can still be seen today. But any new postboxes could feature the new King’s emblem
Pictured: The death of The Queen was announced at 6.30pm today via the Royal Family’s official Twitter account accompanied by this photo
Her Majesty the Queen – Britain’s longest-reigning monarch – has died peacefully at Balmoral aged 96. Her son Charles, is now king, and his face will gradually replace that of his mother’s on coins, notes, stamps,
Charles’s signature will also change. Before, it was simply ‘Charles’, but now it will be followed by an additional R for Rex at the end. As King, he will also need a new personal flag.
In 1960, the Queen adopted a personal flag – a gold E with the royal crown surrounded by a chaplet of roses on a blue background – to be flown on any building, ship, car or aircraft in which she was staying or travelling. It was often used when she visited Commonwealth countries. While the Royal Standard represents the Sovereign and the United Kingdom, the Queen’s own flag was personal to her alone.
Meanwhile, the royal coat of arms, adopted at the start of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1837, will remain the same. But just as when the Queen became monarch, it is likely that new artwork will be issued early in Charles’s reign by the College of Arms for use by public service bodies such as the civil service and the armed forces.
The ‘very light rebranding’ will be hard to spot, but it signifies the opportunity to replace old images, which have been in use for many decades, with newer differently stylised ones. And the Duke of Cambridge will be given an updated coat of arms when he is made the Prince of Wales – a title which he does not inherit automatically.
