Lilibet's official title is expected to be used in formal settings. PA
Lilibet's official title is expected to be used in formal settings. PA
Lilibet's official title is expected to be used in formal settings. PA
Lilibet's official title is expected to be used in formal settings. PA

Prince Harry and Meghan's daughter Lilibet referred to as 'princess' for first time


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

Prince Harry and Meghan's daughter was christened on Friday by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, a representative for the couple revealed.

The ceremony was held using her title Princess Lilibet Diana, marking the first time she has been publicly referred to as a princess.

The representative said: “I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor.”

Lilibet became a princess when her grandfather ascended the throne and became King Charles III.

It is understood Lilibet's title of princess and the prince title of their son Archie will be used in formal settings, but not in everyday use by the couple.

Reverend Taylor is the Bishop of Los Angeles in the Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion.

Prince Harry and Meghan are understood to be keen to not deny their children their birthright, but to allow them the chance to decide for themselves when older whether to drop or keep using the titles.

The christening took place privately at the Sussexes' home in California. It is the first time Lilibet, who turns two in June, has been publicly referred to as an official princess.

No British royals are known to have attended but People magazine, which first reported the christening, said there were up to 30 guests.

Buckingham Palace said the royal website “will now be updated in due course” to reflect the titles.

The use of the titles has been revealed a week after the couple were asked to vacate their UK home Frogmore Cottage, a move sanctioned by the king, which further weakens the couple's ties with Prince Harry's home country and the Windsors.

Title rules set out by King George V in 1917 mean Archie and Lilibet, as the children of a son of a sovereign, automatically became a prince and a princess when Charles became king.

They are also entitled to an HRH style, and although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex retain their HRH styles, they no longer use them.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex said in the couple's interview with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey that Archie was not given the title of prince because of his race.

However, when Archie was born seventh in line to the throne in May 2019, he was too far down the line of succession. He was a great-grandchild of the monarch, and he was not a first-born son of a future king, so was not automatically a prince.

Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
THE CLOWN OF GAZA

Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah 

Starring: Alaa Meqdad

Rating: 4/5

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

Updated: March 09, 2023, 6:37 AM`