Prince Harry has reportedly faced significant delays and complications in obtaining British passports for his children, six-year-old Prince Archie and four-year-old Princess Lilibet. Sources say this drawn-out process has left members of the Royal Family puzzled.
The Duke of Sussex is said to have encountered obstacles partly because of his insistence on including his children’s royal titles on their passports. According to The Guardian, Harry and Meghan were initially told that passport issuance was delayed due to technical problems. After reapplying through an expedited 24-hour service, a required appointment was abruptly canceled, adding to their frustration.
The couple reportedly sent a legal letter demanding access to data about the delays before the passports were finally issued—six months after the initial application. Normally, British passports are processed within three weeks, according to The Mirror.
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Frustrated by the holdup, Harry even considered applying for the passports under his late mother Princess Diana’s family name, Spencer. While Archie already held a British passport under the name Mountbatten-Windsor, the new documents reportedly aimed to use the Sussex surname with the royal style “Prince” and the title “HRH” (His Royal Highness).
Insiders close to the Sussex family suggest that a disagreement arose over the use of titles and passports. They claim the King opposed Archie and Lilibet carrying the “HRH” titles, seeing the passports as the first—and possibly only—legal evidence of their royal status.
Buckingham Palace has strongly denied any involvement by the King or palace officials in the passport delays, refuting claims reported by The Telegraph.
Prince Harry is reportedly keen for his children to retain the “HRH” titles, envisioning a future where they could choose whether to take on roles as working royals or live away from public life.
This stance has caused confusion among royal insiders, with reports of “bemusement” circulating within royal circles about the issue.
After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan gave up their own “HRH” titles, signaling their full departure from official monarchy roles. The Sunday Times has suggested that under the new reign, Archie and Lilibet are unlikely to assume official roles as working royals.