Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have welcomed their two children, Archie and Lilibet, against the backdrop of significant changes in their royal journey. Recently, they quietly amended their son Archie's birth certificate, removing Meghan's first names and listing her solely as 'Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex', a move that breaks with longstanding royal norms.
Archie, born on May 6, 2019, had his birth officially registered 11 days later. The alteration to his birth papers on June 5 has stirred speculation, coinciding with rumors of strains between Harry, his brother William, and their partners.
The decision not to include Meghan's forenames on Archie's birth certificate has been interpreted variously, potentially seen as a divergence from the practice observed with the children of the Prince and Princess of Wales, where Kate's names are included.
Some view this as Harry's gesture to elevate Meghan to an equal standing with his late mother, Princess Diana, who was consistently recognized as “Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales”.
Following these changes, Harry and Meghan withdrew from joint charity activities with the Cambridges and eventually stepped back from their royal roles, an exit referred to as 'Megxit' by commentators. They have since relocated to North America and welcomed their second child, Lilibet.
Lady Colin Campbell, who brought attention to the amendment, described it as "extraordinary" and raised questions about the couple's intentions. Dickie Arbiter, the Queen’s former press secretary, suggested the changes might be "an early part of their plan".
Royal expert Ingrid Seward noted that while royal birth certificate amendments are unprecedented, removing forenames is particularly notable, possibly indicating the couple's desire to differentiate themselves from the Cambridges.
Despite these shifts, Harry's memoir Spare, released last year, portrayed ongoing tensions with senior members of the royal family, including King Charles and Prince William.
Their children, now known as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet following the passing of the late Queen, stand as symbols of the couple's evolving relationship with the monarchy.
