The royal rules seem to be different for different members.
One of the claims that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, made during her interview with Oprah Winfrey was that there were racist undertones in some conversations about her child before he was born. She said that not only was the color of her child's skin discussed but it is likely that he didn't receive a title since she was biracial.
Markle claimed that while she was pregnant "they were saying they didn't want him to be a prince … which would be different from protocol." She implied it might be a case of "the first member of color in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be," writes The Associated Press. However, Prince William responded to the claims on March 11.
He was quoted as saying by ABC News said, "We’re very much not a racist family."
Archie is seventh in line for the throne and doesn't have a title while Prince William's children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis have titles. However, there might be some confusion about who gets to have a title and who doesn't in the British royal family.
Since 1917, when King George V issued a decree, the great-grandchildren of the monarch aren't supposed to have titles except "the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales," according to The Associated Press. Currently, that is William’s son Prince George. George V also limited others from getting the titles of prince and princess.
Bob Morris from the Constitution Unit at University College London, said that this decree was supposed to prevent a huge line of princes and princesses. "Queen Victoria had nine children who were all princes and princesses, and then they had children and so forth, and George V took the view ... that something needed to be done to tidy up the situation," he said.
So, according to this 1917 rule, Archie is not supposed to have a title. However, the Queen can change rules and Queen Elizabeth II did make amendments to the existing rule. In 2012, she decreed that all the children of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, will get titles. The title of a prince or princess can only be passed on through the male line, which means that the children of Princess Anne did not get those titles even though they are the Queen's grandchildren, according to BBC.
Currently, Archie doesn't have a title and he will get one when Prince Charles becomes king as he will be the grandchild of the monarch. While Markle said that "they want to change the convention for Archie," it seemed like she was aware of the protocol, writes BBC. She referred to a "George V or George VI convention" that would ensure that Archie would become a prince "when Harry's dad becomes king."
However, Morris also added that Prince Charles wants a "smaller royal family" when he takes the throne, reported The Associated Press. While Archie could have received a “courtesy title” at birth, such as Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, it was reported then that Harry and Markle didn't want one for their son. However, the Duchess told Winfrey that “it was not our decision to make."
As a mother, it seemed that she was more worried about her son's safety which was tied to him having a title. Markle was told Archie "wasn’t going to receive security." However, those with titles don't necessarily receive security. For instance, Prince Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, don't have security. Prince Harry and Markle received taxpayer-funded police bodyguards before they moved to North America.
Markle repeatedly spoke about the lack of protection from the royal family that she and her family experienced. However, people have criticized Markle for expecting it. "It shows you their naivety and sense of entitlement," retired chief superintendent Dai Davies, who headed the UK’s royalty protection unit, told the Daily Mail. "It was simply arrogant to presume they and their baby would get protection," he added.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying, "The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."
References:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56325934
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