Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may turn down a royal title for their child – this is why

It actually kind of makes sense.

As fans of the royal family (and, let's face it, just about everyone else in the world) are well aware, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are due to welcome their first child soon. There isn't too much known about the future member of the royal family (beyond the fact that Meghan is due in late April or early May). However, one thing is for certain: at the moment, Baby Sussex is not set to receive a royal title - and, therefore, wouldn't be a prince or princess. This is because of what's known as a Letters Patent, which was introduced in 1917 by King George V, and dictated that the royal title continues along the male line of inheritance, in this case, William as the eldest son. However, back in December 2012, the Queen issued a new letters of patent which declared all of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's children would be princes and princesses and hold the title of HRH. The rule doesn't apply to any children that Prince Harry has, though. This means that if Baby Sussex is a boy, he will be sot likely styled as the Earl of Dumbarton and, if Baby Sussex is a girl, she will be likely be styled as Lady Mountbatten-Windsor. And while it's possible that the Queen may issue a new ruling for Prince Harry and Meghan's child, it's unlikely that she would wait until this close to the birth - for example, the 2012 letters of patent was issued five months before Princess Charlotte's brith New reports have claimed that the Sussexes are keen on the idea that they "forgo the formality of royal titles" for their future children. As first noticed by Town and Country, Royal reporter and co-host of the royal-related podcast On Heir, Emily Andrews, said in an episode earlier this month:

"For Harry's children to be HRH, the Queen would have to issue a new letters patent, and she hasn't, so we're pretty sure that they're not going to be HRH."

Omid Scobie, who is her co-host and also a royal correspondent, added that the Sussexes may actually be keen on the "formality of royal titles." He said:

"We've heard from several sources on both sides that the couple really hopes to forgo the formality of royal titles."

Guess that settles it, so.