Half of Brits Oppose Titles for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, Favoring an American Education Over a Return to British Royalty

At 10:45 AM on Monday, July 28, 2025, a growing sentiment in the United Kingdom suggests that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, should forgo their royal titles and embrace an American upbringing rather than reintegrate into the British royal family. A 2023 YouGov poll, reflecting the views of 2,661 British adults, revealed that 51% believe the 6-year-old Archie and 4-year-old Lilibet should not hold the titles of prince and princess, with only 25% in favor and 24% undecided. This public stance, coupled with debates over their education and future, underscores a divide between tradition and modernity, challenging the establishment narrative that their royal lineage remains a viable path. As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex navigate their life in Montecito, California, the question of whether their children should remain distanced from the British monarchy gains traction, reflecting broader shifts in public perception and royal dynamics.

The titles of Archie and Lilibet became a point of contention following King Charles III’s ascension in September 2022, when they automatically qualified as prince and princess under the 1917 Letters Patent by King George V. This decree grants the style of His or Her Royal Highness (HRH) to grandchildren of the sovereign through the male line, unaffected by Harry and Meghan’s 2020 exit from senior royal roles. Initially, the couple refrained from using these titles publicly, with Archie and Lilibet listed as Master and Miss Mountbatten-Windsor on official records. However, a 2023 statement from their spokesperson clarified that the titles were their birthright since Charles’s coronation, a move that reignited debate. The YouGov poll, conducted in March 2023, captured this sentiment, with the majority opposing the titles amid the couple’s declining approval ratings—Harry at -22 and Meghan at -33, per Redfield & Wilton data—following the 2022 Netflix docuseries and Harry’s memoir Spare.

Public opposition appears rooted in the couple’s transatlantic life and the perception that their children are disconnected from British royal traditions. Since relocating to Montecito, Harry and Meghan have raised Archie and Lilibet in a setting far removed from palace protocol, enrolling them in local schools like Cold Spring School, praised by HELLO! contributor Richard Mineards for its high ratings. Grant Harrold, former royal butler to Charles, noted in a 2025 interview that Harry favors a “taste of British lifestyle” for his children, possibly through university, but Meghan’s 2021 Oprah interview highlighted her reluctance, citing media scrutiny that would turn school drop-offs into “royal photo calls.” This tension suggests a preference for an American education, where the children can grow up with the “freedom” Harry praised on Good Morning America in 2024, away from the intense British spotlight.

Harry, Archie, Lilibet Closer to Throne Than Ever Despite Sussex Departure  - Newsweek

The establishment narrative, often echoed by Buckingham Palace, frames the titles as an unchangeable tradition, with Charles retaining the power to revoke them but showing no intent. Yet, this stance is increasingly at odds with public sentiment. The 51% opposition in the YouGov poll reflects a belief that Archie and Lilibet’s American upbringing—where they are sixth and seventh in line to the throne but lack daily royal exposure—renders titles irrelevant. Posts found on X amplify this, with some arguing the children are “Americans with titles,” their royal connection diluted by distance. This view challenges the Palace’s silent endorsement of their status, suggesting a disconnect between royal policy and public will, especially as the monarchy faces calls to modernize under financial and reputational pressures.

Education emerges as a key battleground. Meghan’s concerns about UK media scrutiny contrast with Harry’s hinted openness to a British university experience, per Harrold. However, the couple’s protective stance—keeping school details private—aligns with an American model, where privacy is more feasible. Mineards’ insight into Montecito’s state schools, unlike England’s public schools, supports this shift, offering a normalcy the UK might not. The establishment’s lack of comment on their education preferences avoids addressing this divergence, possibly to sidestep criticism of their royal detachment or to maintain a unified front amid Charles’s health challenges and William’s rising influence.

Critically, the narrative warrants scrutiny beyond the establishment’s lens. The YouGov data, while dated, aligns with ongoing sentiment, as seen in recent royal commentary and X posts questioning the titles’ relevance for “American kids.” The Palace’s reluctance to adjust titles—despite Denmark’s 2022 precedent under Queen Margrethe, who removed titles from four grandchildren—suggests a strategic choice to preserve tradition, even as public support wanes. Reports from 2025, like those in The Sunday Times, indicate William’s potential reign might exclude Archie and Lilibet from working roles, fueling speculation of a future title revocation. This possibility, tied to Harry’s fears of exile under William, per July’s reconciliation talks, hints at a power struggle the establishment downplays.

The couple’s financial and public struggles add context. The end of their Netflix deal this September, staff cuts at Archewell, and backlash to their trailers—over 400,000 dislikes—have strained their $4 million annual expenses against a thinning $10 million inheritance from Diana. This precariousness might push Harry toward UK ties, yet Meghan’s American focus, evident in her lifestyle brand and reluctance to return, pulls the family westward. The establishment’s silence on these pressures avoids implicating the monarchy in their woes, possibly to protect Charles’s image during his cancer treatment or to shield William’s succession narrative.

Public reaction, drawn from web discussions, splits between tradition and pragmatism. Some view the titles as a birthright, per the 1917 decree, while others see them as a burden for children raised outside royal life, advocating an American education free of British expectations. X posts reflect this divide, with some mocking the titles’ irrelevance and others defending royal heritage. The establishment’s focus on Charles’s health and William’s duties sidesteps this debate, potentially to maintain stability amid the Sussexes’ declining favor—Harry’s May 2025 BBC plea for reconciliation notwithstanding.

As 2025 progresses, Archie and Lilibet’s future hinges on their parents’ choices and the monarchy’s evolution. An American education offers privacy and normalcy, aligning with Meghan’s vision, while a British return—however partial—could satisfy Harry’s roots and reconciliation hopes. The 51% opposition to their titles, coupled with public preference for their current life, challenges the royal status quo, suggesting a generation of Sussexes growing up as Americans rather than royals. Whether this reflects a permanent shift or a temporary divergence, the debate underscores a monarchy at a crossroads, with the children’s path reflecting broader tensions between tradition and a modern world.

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