Archie and Lilibet, the children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, have been given Prince and Princess titles - despite their parents actively choosing to step away from life in the royal family in the UK.
The revelation the children will be known by their royal names has come to light following the news Lilibet was christened last Friday in the US.
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed their 21-month-old daughter was christened during a small and intimate ceremony at their home in Montecito, California on Friday, March 3.
"I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor," the representative said in a statement.
People magazine says the Royal Family's official website will be updated to reflect Princess Lilibet and her 3-year-old brother Prince Archie Harrison’s titles "in due course".
Currently, the two children are listed as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
However, the news has stunned many, with some saying it proves that Harry is "still a monarchist".
Royal historian Tessa Dunlop said the couple's decision to use Archie and Lilibet's titles is not a surprise.
"For those of you in any doubt that Harry remains at his core a monarchist, here's the proof: his daughter Lilibet has just been christened Princess Lilibet Diana in California," she said.
"The Sussexes have subsequently confirmed that they intend to use the titles of prince and princess for their son Archie and daughter Lilibet."
However, online commenters have criticised Harry and Meghan over the news, saying they can't have it "both ways".
"Nobility titles hold no weight here in the US. Not really sure why the Sussexes are pushing for them when they have no plans to return to the UK," one said.
"The title comes with the job. Can't have it both ways. If you quit your job playing Snow White, you can't call yourself a Disney Princess any longer. Same with the Royal Family," another claimed.
However some stuck up for Archie and Lilibet saying the children deserved to be treated differently and with respect by the Royal Family.
"Those precious children have nothing to do with the animosity between Harry, Meghan and the RF. If it is tradition that the grandchildren get royal titles then they SHOULD get those titles. Period."
In March 2021 during a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan spoke of being upset Archie was being "denied his birthright" of the title of prince and claimed that decision went against protocol.
She spoke of her shock at being told he would not get police protection because he did not have a title, and suggested that the decision was taken because of his mixed race.
She said at the time she was 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".
"It's not their right to take away," she told Oprah Winfrey.
When asked by Winfrey: "Do you think it’s because of his race?", Meghan 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."
Under protocols established by George V in letters patent more than 100 years ago in 1917, the children and grandchildren of a sovereign have the automatic right to the title HRH and prince or princess.
