There’s a valid reason why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter, Lilibet, is now considered a princess.
This week, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told People that the couple held a private christening for Lilibet at their home in Montecito, California. It read, “I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor.”
It didn’t take long for royal aficionados to notice that Prince Harry and Markle referred to Lilibet as a princess for the very first time. When she was born, she didn’t receive an official title—other than “Miss”—because she wasn’t high enough in the British line of succession.
However, once King Charles ascended the throne after Queen Elizabeth’s death, Lilibet was upgraded from great-granddaughter of the monarch to granddaughter of the monarch. As a result, she’s entitled to the title change in formal settings.
According to People, the tradition was created by King George V in 1917. The rule was included in a Letters Patent and stated that “the grandchildren of the sons of any such sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of dukes of these our realms.” The mag also confirmed that the royal family’s official website will soon be updated to reflect these changes.
Who knew royal life was so complicated?
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