Prince Charles has plans to create a slimmed-down monarchy, meaning Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son Archie will never be a prince, reports claim.
The Prince of Wales is thought to have favoured the idea of a smaller monarchy for a long time, believing the public doesn’t want to pay for an ever-widening Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reported to be included in the plan before stepping down as senior royals, and the parents had expected Archie to become a prince when Charles takes the throne.
But this is allegedly no longer the case, with speculation that Charles is set to change key documents – meaning only heirs to the throne and their immediate families can receive full titles, financial support through the Sovereign Grant and police protection.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are believed to have been furious as they were reportedly told the details of his final decision just before their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March.
The move would also impact other members of the Royal Family, with Charles and brother Prince Andrew allegedly disagreeing over what security Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will receive in future.
A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Charles has never made any secret of the fact that he wants a slimmed-down Monarchy when he becomes King.
‘He realises that the public don’t want to pay for a huge Monarchy and, as he said, the balcony at Buckingham Palace would probably collapse.’
Discussing Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview, the royal insider added: ‘This is what nobody realised from the interview.
‘The real thing was that Charles was going to take active steps [to deprive various high-ranking royals of their right to titles], depriving Archie of his ultimate birthright.’
The Queen’s grandfather King George V set out the rules for royal titles in the Letters Patent dated November 20, 1917.
It states the titles of Prince and Princess will be given to the children of the sovereign, the children of the sovereign’s sons and the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s two youngest children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, received their titles as gifts from the Queen, who issued new Letters Patent in 2013.
Speaking to Oprah, Meghan suggested Archie had been denied his birthright by the palace which she said was a swerve from royal protocol.
She said ‘it’s not their right to take away’, and appeared upset at the ‘idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be’.
When asked by Oprah if she thought the move was because of race, she replied: ‘In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time, so we [had] the conversation of he won’t be given security, he’s not going to be given a title.
‘And, also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born.’
Archie, who is technically the Earl of Dumbarton, now has a sister named Lilibet Diana, who would not receive a title under Charles’ alleged plan.
Princess Anne refused lesser titles for her children Peter and Zara, while Prince Edward’s children are titled Lady and Viscount.
It comes as reports claim Harry has asked to approve at least one journalist in the team of royal reporters covering the unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue next month.
Charles will be in Scotland when the duke returns to England for the first time since Prince Philip’s funeral.
A Royal source said last night: ‘We are not going to speculate about the succession or comment on rumours coming out of America.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been contacted for comment.
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