The death of the Queen will likely result in a number of changes to the titles of prominent royals, notably the Cambridges and the Sussexes.
Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is now technically a prince following the death of the Queen, a title Meghan has controversially claimed was previously denied to him due to his ethnicity.
His younger sister, Lilibet “Lili” Mountbatten-Windsor, is also entitled to be a princess upon the death of the Queen and the accession to the throne of her grandfather, the Prince of Wales.
The laws established by King George V in 1917 indicate that Archie and Lili, as the children of a son of a sovereign, now have the option to wear the HRH style if they so choose.
In the meanwhile, the Cambridges will undergo significant modifications.
As the oldest son of Charles, Prince William acquired the title of Duke of Cornwall.
William and Kate have already modified their names to include Cornwall, a title they gained as a result of Prince Charles’ accession to the throne. They are now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Cornwall.
Due to rules established by King George V in 1917, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, is now officially a prince. In 2021, the family is featured in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Christmas card.
As soon as William becomes Prince of Wales Kate will become Princess of Wales, a title last used by Diana, William’s mother, when she was married to Charles.
Prince George of Cornwall and Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cornwall and Cambridge, and Prince Louis of Cornwall and Cambridge are the children of William and Kate (pictured together on September 7). When William becomes Prince of Wales, they will become “of Wales.”
However, this could soon change. Prince William’s father could grant him the title of Prince of Wales. In 1958, the Queen bestowed King Charles the title.
Kate will become the Princess of Wales if William is granted the title of Prince of Wales. Diana, William’s mother, last had the title when she was married to Charles.
Technically, Camilla was also the Princess of Wales, but she never used the title due to its relationship with Diana.
If William becomes the Earl of Chester, Kate will also hold the title of Countess of Chester. She is also the Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, a position previously held by Camilla.
Prince George of Cornwall and Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cornwall and Cambridge, and Prince Louis of Cornwall and Cambridge are the children of William and Kate. When William becomes Prince of Wales, they will become “of Wales.”
Similarly, Harry and Meghan’s children will now become Prince and Princess for the first time.
During the couple’s shocking interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle detailed her ‘suffering’ as she claimed that officials had denied Prince Archie the title of prince and that Buckingham Palace had failed to protect him by providing him 24-hour security.
Meghan said that she has no attachment to the ‘grandeur’ of official titles when asked if it was ‘essential’ that Archie be referred to as a prince.
She explained that it was due to “the feeling that our son was not safe, and also the idea that the first person of color in our family would not be titled in the same manner as previous grandchildren.”
In 2021, it was speculated that Charles, in an effort to reduce the number of key royals, intended to prevent Archie from becoming a prince when he became monarch.
To do so, he must issue a Letters Patent modifying Archie’s and Lili’s rights to be prince and princess, respectively.
Archie and Lili continue to hold the titles of prince and princess, regardless of whether or not their parents choose to use them.
Meghan claimed in the Sussexes’ explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey that Archie was not granted the title of prince due of his race.
When Archie was born, according to George V’s constraints, he was too far down the line of succession for such a title, but now, as the son of a son of a sovereign, he can be an HRH and a prince.
During the bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan Markle expressed her ‘sad’ that Archie was denied the title of prince and accused Buckingham Palace of failing to protect him by providing him 24-hour protection.
However, when Archie was born in May 2019 as the seventh-in-line to the throne, he was too far down the succession line.
What is the convention of George V?
In 1917, the Queen’s grandfather issued fresh letters patent limiting the number of members of the royal family having an HRH title.
These stated that “the children of any Sovereign of these Realms and the children of any such Sovereign’s sons 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 fresh letters patent limiting the number of members of the royal family having an HRH title.
This means that when Prince Charles became King, his grandchildren, including Archie, became princes and princesses automatically.
In addition, it was decided that “grandchildren of the sons of any such Sovereign in the direct male line… will have and enjoy in all circumstances 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 specified, “save as aforesaid, the style title or attribute of Royal Highness, Highness, or Serene Highness, and the titular rank of Prince or Princess shall not henceforth be assumed or borne by any descendant of any Sovereign of these Realms.”
Although he was a great-grandchild of the monarch, he was not the eldest son of a future king, and hence was not automatically a prince.
Previously, he may have adopted the honorific title Earl of Dumbarton or been known as Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
Buckingham Palace stated, however, that the duke and duchess made a personal decision for him to be known as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
Following Archie’s arrival, a royal insider stated that the couple had decided not to give him a courtesy title “at this time.”
Meghan revealed to Oprah that, while she was pregnant with Prince Archie, an unknown member of the royal family expressed “concerns and conversations about how dark his skin may be when he is born.”
After leaving their positions as senior working royals for a life in Los Angeles, the Sussexes ceased using their own HRH styles, and there were later requests for their duke and duchess titles to be revoked.
If Harry and Meghan decide that Archie and Lili will be referred to as prince and princess, this will be in stark contrast to how Harry has always described the weight of bearing a title.
He constantly emphasized the significance of wanting to be perceived as normal and admitted in 2017 that he previously ‘wanted out’ of the royal family, a desire that came true in 2020.
The former soldier stated that his time in the Army as “simply Harry” was “the best escape I’ve ever had” and that he had pondered relinquishing his rank.
Penny Junor, a royal author, stated, “He wished he had been a normal lad growing up and found his title very tough.”
The duke is close with his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, and he may have learned from their experiences.
Junor continued, “He glanced at Zara and Peter and saw that it was lot simpler for them than it was for him.”
He was the center of attention at all times. His friends were singled out if he did anything improper or misbehaved.
When Zara and Peter were growing up, we knew nothing about them since they were regular children attending regular schools who were not given any special consideration.
Zara, who grew up as Miss Zara Phillips, was unable to be an HRH due to her birth in the female line as the daughter of a royal.
She has stated that her lack of a title is a blessing.
‘I’ve been incredibly lucky. My parents did not assign us titles, which has allowed us to have a more normal childhood. Once you have a title, it is really tough to lose it,’ she remarked.
The monarch was affectionately referred to as “Granny” and “Gan-Gan” by the younger generation of royals. This photograph, shot by the Duchess of Cambridge in 2018 at Balmoral Castle, shows the Queen and the late Duke of Edinburgh seated with seven of their great-grandchildren, from left to right: Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Savannah Phillips (in the background), Isla Phillips holding Lena Tindall and Mia Tindall, and Mia Tindall are pictured.
The Queen, shown earlier this week at Balmoral with Liz Truss, passed away Friday afternoon at the age of 96.
As the children of a son of a monarch, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn of the Earl and Countess of Wessex were permitted to use the titles princess and prince.
With the Queen’s approval, Edward and Sophie elected to use the courtesy titles of an earl instead.
Meghan stated that she and Harry desired for Archie to be a prince in order to provide him with security and protection.
But being a prince or princess does not automatically entitle them to taxpayer-funded police bodyguards, and the Sussexes have chosen to reside in the United States.
Archie is the first Prince of Sussex in history, while Lili is the first Princess of Sussex.
Both of the marriages of the eccentric Duke of Sussex from the nineteenth century, who was the son of King George III, were pronounced invalid.
Charles, formerly the Prince of Wales, is now King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Camilla is the Queen as the King’s wife (pictured together attending Thanksgiving on June 3)
In September 2005, the Queen and her grandson Prince William observe the annual Braemar Gathering in Scotland.
At the conclusion of the Platinum Pageant in London, Prince George viewed his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
During the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Charlotte joined her parents and the monarch on a number of royal ceremonies, including Trooping the Colour (pictured)
Lady Augusta Murray, his mistress, was not the Duchess of Sussex, and his illegitimate son was Master Augustus Frederick d’Este.
Lady Augusta referred to herself, however, as a duchess and a princess, and her staff referred to her son as Prince Augustus and her daughter as Princess Augusta. Archie will eventually be eligible to succeed Harry as the Duke of Sussex.
Previously the Prince of Wales, Charles is now King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He is also the monarch of the Commonwealth.
He prefers the style His Majesty to His Royal Highness. Charles is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Defender of the Faith. Currently, he is the Duke of Lancaster.
Camilla is the Queen as the King’s wife. She prefers Her Majesty over Her Royal Highness. She is a Queen Consort, like the Queen Mother, rather than a Queen Regnant, like Elizabeth II, who ruled in her own right.
Pillar boxes, cash, stamps, police helmets, passports. So much will change under King Charles III, even the QCs will become KCs.
According to David Wilkes for the Daily Mail
After seventy years on the throne, we have all grown accustomed to seeing the Queen’s image on currency, coins, and stamps.
However, after her passing, they will need to be replaced with images of the incoming king, Charles III.
However, the British currency will not be substituted overnight. It could take years, while new coins and banknotes bearing the King’s image are issued and the previous ones are gradually withdrawn from circulation.
In addition, whereas the Queen’s picture currently faces right on coins, the King’s image will now face left. This is owing to a 17th-century custom that alternates the direction subsequent kings face. The Queen’s coins were not introduced until 1953, the year following her accession.
The new coins and banknotes must be designed, struck, or printed. The Royal Mint advisory committee must then submit new coin recommendations to the Chancellor and obtain royal approval. The selected designs are subsequently accepted by the Chancellor and then by the King.
The British currency will not be replaced immediately. It could take years while new coins and banknotes bearing the King’s image are issued and the previous ones are progressively withdrawn from circulation.
While the Queen’s picture currently faces to the right on coins, the King’s image will henceforth face to the left.
Following the passing of the Queen at age 96, Australian coins and the $5 banknote will be redesigned to represent King Charles (pictured is a mocked-up version of the 20 cent coin)
At some point, passports will be issued in the new King’s name and their wording will be altered. The Passport Office of Her Majesty will be renamed the Passport Office of His Majesty.
The title of barristers and solicitors appointed by the king will change from Queen’s Counsel (QC) to King’s Counsel due to a change in the law (KC)
Stamps also feature an image of the Queen, and new stamps bearing the face of the King will need to be produced as the current ones are gradually phased away. Charles may have posed for such sculptures or portraits previously, and he will be required to accept the designs once more.
Royal Mail postboxes holding the Queen’s ER cipher (for ‘Elizabeth Regina’, the Latin for queen) are unlikely to be removed; in fact, some postboxes bearing the cypher of the Queen’s father King George VI can still be seen today. However, new mailboxes may bear the new King’s symbol.
And in criminal court proceedings, the R denoting the Crown now stands for Rex instead of Regina. In addition, barristers and solicitors chosen by the king will have their titles changed from Queen’s Counsel (QC) to King’s Counsel (KC).
In the meanwhile, the lyrics to the National Anthem are now “God save our gracious King.”
Police and military uniforms with the Queen’s cypher are anticipated to be replaced with the new King’s cypher – the monogram imprinted on royal and government papers – over time. The ERII of the Queen is displayed on traditional police helmets.
At some point, passports will be issued in the new King’s name and their wording will be altered. As with HM Armed Forces and HM Prison Service, Her Majesty’s Passport Office will become His Majesty’s Passport Office.
Eventually, police and military uniforms carrying the Queen’s cypher will be replaced with the new King’s cypher — the monogram affixed to royal and government papers. The ERII of the Queen is displayed on traditional police helmets.
Stamps include an image of the Queen, and new stamps displaying the face of the King will need to be made, with the current stamps being phased out gradually.
Royal Mail postboxes holding the Queen’s ER cipher (for ‘Elizabeth Regina’, the Latin for queen) are unlikely to be removed; in fact, some postboxes bearing the cypher of the Queen’s father King George VI can still be seen today. But new mailboxes may bear the new King’s emblem.
The death of The Queen was announced via the Royal Family’s official Twitter account at 6.30pm today, along with this image.
Her Majesty the Queen, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 in Balmoral. Her son Charles is now king, and his image will gradually replace his mother’s on coins, banknotes, and stamps.
The signature of Charles will also change. Previously, it was simply ‘Charles,’ but now it will be followed by the letter R for Rex. He will also require a new personal flag as King.
In 1960, the Queen chose a personal flag consisting of a gold E with the royal crown encircled by a chaplet of roses on a blue background, which was to be flown on any building, ship, automobile, or aircraft in which she resided or traveled. It was frequently employed when she visited Commonwealth nations. The Royal Standard represents the Sovereign and the United Kingdom, whereas the Queen’s personal flag was exclusive to her.
The royal coat of arms, which was adopted at the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1837, will stay unchanged. Similar to when the Queen became king, it is expected that the College of Arms will issue new artwork for use by public sector groups such as the civil service and the armed forces early in Charles’ reign.
The “very light rebranding” will be difficult to detect, but it represents the opportunity to replace decades-old photos with fresh, differently-styled ones. When he is made Prince of Wales, a title he does not inherit automatically, the Duke of Cambridge will receive a new coat of arms.