Prince Harrys son was never entitled to a royal title - and it has nothing to do with Meghan

LONDON: US TV star Oprah Winfrey’s high-profile interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left many viewers with more questions than answers.

One major controversy covered in the interview concerned the title of the couple’s son Archie, full name Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

Despite being seventh in line to the British throne, Archie was not granted the title of prince, which has angered Megan and her fans.

But Archie’s lack of title at birth is to be expected, given the precedent established by a royal rule dating back 104 years.

In 1917, King George V issued a decree stating: “The grandchildren of the sons of any such Sovereign in the direct male line (save only the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) shall have and enjoy in all occasions the style and title enjoyed by the children of Dukes of these Our Realms.”

Because Queen Elizabeth II is the ruling sovereign, her children and grandchildren receive royal titles.

But her great-grandchildren — including any children of Megan and Prince Harry — will only be titled Lord or Lady Mountbatten-Windsor.

This also means that Archie did not receive the title “his royal highness” (HRH). His parents decided to use the title “master.”

Despite Megan’s expectation that her son would assume the title of prince upon becoming a grandson when Prince Charles takes the throne, she was told that “protocols would be changed.”

So why did the children of Prince William and Kate Middleton receive the royal titles? Because Queen Elizabeth demanded it.

As a direct heir to the throne, their son George was always entitled to be a prince, unlike his siblings Charlotte and Louis.

But when Kate was pregnant, Queen Elizabeth issued a letters patent giving the prince or princess title to any of William’s children.

This led to Megan arguing that her son “was not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be.”

Several of the queen’s grandchildren, including Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, could have been provided with royal titles when they were born, but their parents requested otherwise so that they could pursue normal lives.

So even though Queen Elizabeth decided to avoid extending the HRH title, it might be a silver lining for Megan and Prince Harry, given that they have since chosen to step back from royal duties altogether.