Will Archie ever be a prince? Why Meghan and Harry's oldest child might soon be getting a royal title

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle explained why their first-born child Archie didn't have a title during their explosive tell-all Oprah interview. But that might be set to change in the next few years... 

• Despite being eighth in line to the throne, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor does not have a title and is instead referred to as 'Master Archie' when a title prefix is required. 
• However, when Prince Charles becomes King, Archie will be able to use the title of HRH Prince. 
• In other royal news, this is how Prince Harry is giving his children the California upbringing Princess Diana would have wanted

Much speculation surrounded whether or not Archie, the first-born child of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, would be a Prince. 

But it was announced shortly after his birth that unlike his cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, Archie would not have a royal title. 

Because he is a great-grandson of the monarch in the male line, and because his father, Prince Harry, has a ducal title (the Duke of Sussex), Archie could have used the title Earl of Dumbarton from birth but his parents decided against it. 

Just like their decision to swap their home at Frogmore Cottage for a new life in Santa Barbara, it was initially speculated that Harry and Meghan chose to forgo a royal title for their son to ensure he had a more normal upbringing than what his father had. 

However, a different picture emerged during Meghan's landmark tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey back in March. 

During the candid conversation with Oprah, Meghan alleged that during her pregnancy, conversations took place about her future child's royal status—including what title he or she would receive.

"They were saying they didn't want him to be a Prince or Princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol," she said during the two-hour TV special, which covered everything from allegations of racism within the royal family, to Meghan's struggle with suicidal thoughts during her first pregnancy. 

Meghan also said that his lack of royal title meant Archie was not going to receive security from 'The Firm'. 

"They said [he's not going to get security], because he's not going to be a Prince," she alleged. "Okay, well, he needs to be safe so we're not saying don't make him a Prince or Princess."

When will Archie become a Prince?

While the decision for Archie to be without a royal title might not have been a personal choice made by Harry and Meghan, that could soon change when his grandfather, Prince Charles, becomes the monarch.  

According to the 1917 Letters Patent, Archie (and his little sister Lilibet) will automatically join their cousins in receiving HRH titles when their grandfather succeeds to the throne. 

Archie will not be able to pass the title of Prince onto his children, however, as they will be another generation removed from the sovereign. But the title of Duke of Sussex will pass to Prince Harry's male-line descendants.