Archie and Lilibet: who are they and how are they related?

Archie and Lilibet: names, lineage, and what the titles mean

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor are the children of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Archie, born 6 May 2019, is fifth in line to the UK throne and holds the style Master but does not use a royal title. Lilibet, born 4 June 2021, is sixth in line and, like Archie, is a non-working royal without a royal style or title. Both are members of the British royal family by birth, but their public profiles remain limited compared to working royals.

Key facts at a glance

Titles and styles explained

At birth, Archie was fifth in line and did not hold a royal style such as Prince. A private family decision meant he did not receive the style His Royal Highness Prince Archie of somewhere. Lilibet, born after the 2021 adjustments to royal protocols, has always been without a royal highness style or title. This contrasts with some cousins who use HRH by virtue of their positions or family grants. For both children, these non-style choices reflect a more private approach within the royal family.

Family background and lineage

Archie and Lilibet are the biological grandchildren of King Charles III and Diana, Princess of Wales, on their father’s side. On their mother’s side, they are part of the American-Danish-Swedish heritage of Meghan’s family, the Markle line, which includes parents Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland. As non-working royals, neither child carries out official engagements, yet they remain central to succession and family narratives. Their upbringing balances royal expectation with reported efforts to lead a more ordinary childhood.

Names: sources and significance

• Archie: Chosen by Harry and Meghan; also a family nickname for her grandfather, the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
• Harrison: Her patronymic middle name, meaning ‘son of Harry’.
• Lilibet: A private nickname for Queen Elizabeth II within her family; Meghan has publicly confirmed the name as a tribute.
• Diana: Middle name honoring Princess Diana, Harry’s late mother and Lilibet’s paternal grandmother.

Public visibility and media coverage

Both children have appeared very rarely in public. Archie accompanied his parents on a royal tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2019, while Lilibet has not been seen publicly at all. Their parents have discussed their desire for a more normal upbringing, limiting formal portraits and press interactions. When images or statements emerge, they often trigger intense speculation about titles, schooling, and future roles, underscoring ongoing public curiosity about the Sussex family.

Succession and legal status today

Archie and Lilibet remain sixth and seventh in the line of succession as of 2025, behind older cousins and ahead of younger siblings. They are British citizens by birth and enjoy all associated rights, though they do not perform royal duties. Protocol around their titles has evolved: decisions made at birth emphasized private choice, while later guidance clarified succession order without conferring styles. These arrangements affect how they are addressed in formal and ceremonial settings, even if largely out of the public eye.