The major royal decision King Charles could reverse for Archie and Lilibet but it’s ‘still up in the air’

There's a royal decision King Charles could reverse for his Sussex grandchildren though it's claimed 'trust' must be earned first

royal decision King Charles could reverse revealed. Seen here he attends the Epiphany service at the church of St Lawrence
(Image credit: Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

There’s a major royal decision King Charles could reverse for Archie and Lilibet but it’s reportedly “still up in the air” at the moment.  


Since ascending the throne in 2022, His Majesty has made a number of major decisions that affect the structure and roles of the Royal Family. King Charles’ first major move as monarch returned Princess Anne’s prestigious role to her and Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla were granted major new roles in December too. 

Though he has yet to do it, there’s also a major royal decision King Charles could reverse for Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. However, a source has claimed that whether or not he will do so currently remains “up in the air” amid the recent drama following Prince Harry’s memoir’s release. 

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

(Image credit: Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty)

Neither of King Charles’ Sussex grandchildren were born with HRH titles and are not known as Prince or Princess, but Master and Miss. At the time of Archie’s birth it was widely believed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had chosen for their son not to have a title, perhaps to afford him a higher level of privacy and independence. 

However, opening up to Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan claimed that the choice had not been theirs at all, instead alleging that it was “not our decision to make”. As per Oprah Daily, the Duchess of Sussex described it as “a decision that they felt appropriate” and said that “having the title gives you safety and security”. 

Despite this, it’s also been reported that Prince Harry and Meghan turned down a royal title of a different sort for Archie amid bullying fears. Earl of Dumbarton is one of the Duke of Sussex’s other titles and it’s thought that Archie could have used this. 

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu

(Image credit: Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty)

Either way, when King Charles ascended the throne Archie and Lilibet became entitled to Prince and Princess titles as the grandchildren of the monarch. Although Lady Louise Windsor isn’t a Princess, the same was true for her when her grandmother Queen Elizabeth was monarch in terms of being entitled to this title. As of yet, though, His Majesty hasn’t made the announcement that Archie and Lilibet have received these new titles.

According to an unnamed source who opened up to Vanity Fair, in light of Prince Harry and Meghan’s Netflix series and the memoir allegations and the resulting scrutiny, a level of “trust” allegedly needs to be earned first.

“The matter of titles is still up in the air,” the source claimed. “The feeling is that the titles need to be earned. The royals need to know that they can trust Harry and Meghan not to keep damaging the reputation of the family.”

King Charles during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

(Image credit: Photo by Jon Super - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Whatever happens regarding whether King Charles reverses the original decision for Archie and Lilibet to not have titles, speculation is building over whether the Sussexes will be at the coronation. King Charles’ coronation day is also Archie’s 4th birthday and so it would certainly be lovely for them to be in the UK and possibly spend some time together.  

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!