Unlike Prince William’s children, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s son Archie does not have “prince” in his name. Turns out, the status of his title is a lot more complex than the rulebook makes it seem.

In Sunday’s tell-all interview with American TV host Oprah Winfrey, the couple revealed that Buckingham Palace decided Archie would go without a “prince” title. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted the honour for their kid as it comes with increased royal protection.

Meghan told Oprah, “They said [he’s not going to get security] because he’s not going to be a prince,” adding that her son needs to be safe and so the British royal family should not associate the title with security.

Archie, who will turn two years old this May, is the seventh in the line of succession to the British throne behind his grandfather Prince Charles, his uncle Prince William, his three cousins- Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and his father Harry.

Why did Archie receive no royal title?

Going by the rules, the titles of “prince” and “princess” are restricted to the children of the sovereign (Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne); the children of the sovereign’s sons (Prince William and Prince Harry), and the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales (Prince George).

Also read: ‘It’s a girl’: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle reveal second child’s gender

Since Prince Harry is the second son of Prince of Wales, his children are not promised the title of “prince” or “princess.”

Why do Prince William’s children have titles?

Also, if you are wondering why Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have titles before their names, that’s because Queen Elizabeth II issued an order in 2013 that removed the first-kid-only decree, making all of William’s children prince and princesses.

Why do Prince Andrew’s children have titles but Princess Anne’s don’t?

Now, if you are thinking about why Prince Andrew’s two daughters have the royal titles even though their father is not the eldest son of Prince of Wales, this is due to a different rule of the Buckingham Palace. 

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Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice have the honours before their names because according to 1917 rule, the sovereign’s grandchildren can have Prince or Princess royal titles. This means that if Archie had to get a title, his grandfather, Prince Charles, needs to become the King first. 

Also, to be clear, Queen did offer her only daughter, Princess Anne, the titles for her children, but Anne declined.

What are the perks of having royal titles?

First and foremost, royal titles come with social as well as financial security for life. The palace has multiple sources of income but the prominent one is the Sovereign Grant, an annual lump sum from the government. The earnings of the members are not disclosed.

Also read: Meghan Markle-Prince Harry interview: Explosive statements that the couple made

For high-end security, the Royal Protection Group watches over the Queen and the immediate heirs to the throne 24/7. It protects the royals from media intrusion. The squad include uniformed officers and personal bodyguards, who are trained in the use of firearms and unarmed combat, advanced driving, emergency first aid and more.

Why does Meghan think her son needs a title?

With all the racism she faced since the beginning of her relationship with Harry, inside and outside of the palace, she thinks Archie would receive the same treatment. “Just didn’t want to be alive anymore,” the Duchess of Sussex told Oprah in the interview while raising allegations of racism in the monarchy, which says it all.