Prince Charles 'to ensure' grandson Archie won't ever be prince

Prince Charles' plan to 'slim down' the monarchy when he becomes king may see Prince Harry’s son Archie never become a prince, a new report suggests.

There had been plenty of talk around why Harry and Meghan's son Archie would not be known as a Prince, nor would his younger sister Lilibet Diana be known as a Princess. And despite speculation their grandfather Charles may allow the title to be added when he becomes King, it seems that won't be the case.

According to The Mail on Sunday, Prince Charles has made it clear Archie will have no place among frontline royals in future, even though when Charles is King, as a grandchild of the sovereign he would have the right to be a Prince.

Charles reportedly told the Sussexes he will change key legal documents to 'ensure' that Archie cannot get the title he would once have inherited by right, according to a source close to the couple.

"Harry and Meghan were told Archie would never be a Prince, even when Charles became King," the insider told the publication.

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It is thought the move prompted the most recent outbursts from the Sussexes – Prince Harry in particular.

During their explosive Oprah interview in March, Meghan suggested that Archie, who is formally known as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, was denied his birthright by not being given the title of Prince, or a HRH designation.

But according to the 1917 “Letter Patent” issued by King George V establishing protocol for how the children and grandchildren of a sovereign are titled, only the children and grandchildren of the King or Queen have the right to the title Prince or Princess, and HRH. Because Archie and Lilibet are the great-grandchildren of the Queen, they don't need to be given a title.

William's son Prince George is allowed the title as he’s the direct heir to the throne, after William.

Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis should technically have been Lady Charlotte and Lord Louis, but in 2012 the Queen revised the rules, issuing her own "Letter Parent".

Prince Charles to 'ditch' Sussexes in royal slim down, expert says

Angela Levin, royal biographer and author of Harry: Conversations with the Prince, claimed earlier this year Prince Charles was planning to "cut the monarchy down to save costs and to make people be worth the money that they get from the taxpayer".

"I imagine that might be when Harry and Meghan are ditched from being members of the royal family," she said.

Angela explained that the Queen, who recently turned 95, was the reason that the 'outer edge' or peripheral royals were still considered part of the monarchy and, as such, entitled to public funding.

In terms of what a slimmed down royal family would look like, it will likely include Prince Charles, his second wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Charles' eldest son, Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and their three children.

Those not in the smaller, inner circle may have to enter the public workforce to support themselves financially and could lose their patronages or titles.

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