The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced that they’ll be welcoming their first child in spring 2019.
But the latest addition to the royal family might not be a Prince or Princess.
Royal etiquette expert William Hanson told Media that the royal baby’s title all depends on the Queen’s decision.
“Any title given to the child will be at The Queen’s discretion and whim,” Hanson explained. “Due to Prince Harry’s status as 6th in line to the throne, and as the child’s as 7th once born, it is unlikely it will be made a Prince or Princess, but we won’t know until after the birth.”
“It is likely that it will be The Lord or The Lady Windsor. If the child is male it may take Prince Harry’s courtesy title – Earl of Dumbarton,” Hanson says.
According to the Evening Standard, Prince Harry’s great-great-grandfather, King George V, limited titles within the royal family a century ago, meaning that children born too far down the lineage are not granted an HRH (Her/His Royal Highness) title.
For the child to become a Prince or Princess, the Queen will have to issue a Letters Patent, a written order granting a person a title.
The Queen did exactly that at the birth of Prince George, son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, to ensure that all their children would have titles, and not just first born George.
Title or no title, to say the world is excited for Harry and Meghan’s first child would be an understatement.
Spring in the UK will begin on March 20 and will run through until June 21. The new baby will be seventh in line for the throne — royals behind the child in the line of succession will all be bumped down the line, including Prince Andrew and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019. pic.twitter.com/Ut9C0RagLk
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 15, 2018
The announcement came just as the eyes of the world were on the royal couple as they touched down in Sydney to begin their first overseas tour together.
It also comes nearly five months to the day that they were married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. British media are reporting the Queen and other royals learned about the pregnancy on Friday, when the family were all gathered for Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.