Prince Harry will Marry Meghan Markle



Prince Henry of Wales (who is often referred to as Prince Harry) and Meghan Markle announced their engagement on November 27, 2017. Since then, people have wondered if this makes Meghan Markle a princess. How does their marriage affect the line of succession to the throne?

Will Meghan Markle be a Princess?
There are two answers to this question. Technically, no, she will not officially become Princess Meghan. Only people who are born into the royal family can have the title of Prince or Princess. Her title would become Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales, but would not become Princess Meghan.

She could, however, become a Duchess after marriage. It appears likely that Prince Harry will be given the title of Duke. The title of Duke of Sussex is available. Prince Harry could become His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, and that would make his wife Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex.

That being said, people are probably going to call her Princess Meghan. Kate Middleton became Duchess of Cambridge when she married Prince William, and people call her Princess Kate. Princess Diana, the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry, wasn’t technically a princess, either.

Are Harry and Meghan the first mixed-race royal couple?
Meghan Markle is biracial. Her father is Caucasian and her mother is African-American. Prince Harry has Caucasian parents.

They are not the first mixed-race royal couple. Archduke Franz Ferdinand von Hapsburg-Lorhringen is Caucasian. His wife, Archduchess Lei von Hapsburg-Lothringen, is African-American. Mr. von Habsburg’s brother married a South Sudanese woman. Prince Maxmillian of Liechtenstein is married to Angela Gisela Brown who is an Afro-Panamanian from New York City.

Does Harry and Meghan’s marriage change the line of succession?
No, it does not. However, something unrelated to their marriage will change the line of succession.

The current line of succession is:
HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (b. 1948)
HRH Prince William of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge (b.1982)
HRH Prince George of Cambridge (b. 2013)
HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (b. 2015)
HRH Prince Henry of Wales (Harry) (b. 1984)

HRH Prince William of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge, and his wife Duchess Katherine of Cambridge, are expecting their third child. The due date is estimated to be in April of 2018. When the child is born, he or she will be on the line of succession ahead of Prince Harry.

Related Articles at FamilyTree.com:

* Could Prince George of Cambridge Become King?

* Prince Philip is Stepping Down from Public Life

* Princess Diana’s Family Tree

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