Here's why Harry and Meghan's baby probably won't be a prince or princess
Although we do not have an official due date, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first child is expected to be born next month. And, when the name of the baby is revealed, we will also learn of its title, because, unlike its cousins, George, Charlotte and Louis, Harry and Meghan's baby is unlikely to be a prince or princess.
According to George V's 1917 decree, only the eldest son of the Prince of Wales' eldest son was entitled to be a prince and styled as His Royal Highness. So, in this case, only Prince George (Charles' eldest son's eldest son), was allowed to take the title.
However, in December 2012, the Queen declared that all of William and Kate's children would be styled as His or Her Royal Highness and called prince or princess.
This rule does not currently apply to Harry's children, meaning that baby Sussex is likely to take the title of the Earl of Dumbarton (if a boy) or Lady [first name] Mountbatten-Windsor (if it's a girl). Any boys born after the first will be styled as Lord [first name] Mountbatten-Windsor. The reason for this is that the eldest son and heir apparent of a duke can use one of his father's lesser grade peerage titles by courtesy – and Harry was given the title of the Earl of Dumbarton on the morning of his wedding.
There is also the possibility however that the Queen could step in and give the Sussex's children the titles of prince or princess if she deemed it appropriate.
Harry and Meghan, though, may not want this for their children and would not be the first modern couple to reject the honour. For example, Princess Anne turned down the Queen's offer to give this title to her children, who used the names Peter Phillips and Zara Phillips (and later Zara Tindall when she got married). Equally, the Queen's son Prince Edward requested a lesser title than he was offered when he got married (becoming an earl, rather than a duke), which meant that his children were not offered the titles of prince and princess.
Although the decision has likely already been made by Harry, Meghan and the Queen, we probably won't find out what the baby's title is until the birth announcement.
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