His younger sister, Lilibet “Lili” Mountbatten-Windsor, is also eligible to become a princess following the death and accession of her grandfather, the Prince of Wales. Meghan spoke in an interview with US broadcaster Oprah Winfrey last year about her shock at being told Archie would not receive police protection because he was undocumented and suggested the decision was made because of his mixed race. The Sussexes said in the interview that they had expected Archie to receive the title of prince after Charles ascended the throne, but had been told that protocols would change – in line with Charles’ desire for a limited monarchy – so that the child would be disqualified from becoming HRH and a prince. Under the protocols established by King George V in 1917, children and grandchildren of a sovereign are automatically entitled to the title HRH and prince or princess. At the time Archie was born, he was the great-grandson of a sovereign, not a grandchild. But to prevent him from becoming a prince, the King would have to issue a Letters Patent that would modify Archie’s right to be a prince and Lili’s right to be a princess. Asked in the Winfrey interview if Archie being a prince was important to her, Meghan had replied: “If it meant he would be safe, then of course.” This was said against the background of extended members of the royal family not being automatically entitled to police security. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. George V’s declaration meant that only Prince George, as the monarch’s great-grandson in the direct line of succession to the throne, had the right to be prince in the first place, as he is the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.
