UPDATE: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are officially engaged. The 32-year-old prince has finally popped the question to the Suits actress after over a year of dating.


Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might only have been dating for just under a year, but with rumours of the pair moving in together this summer and the actress giving up her role on hit US television Suits, royal fans are already dreaming up the pair's future as husband and wife.

Or rather, Prince and Princess?

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According to an interview with Royal expert Imogen Lloyd Webber for People, if the 35-year-old actress weds Prince Harry, she wouldn't become a Princess – in much the same way Kate Middleton isn't referred to as 'Princess Kate' – as you can't become royal through marriage.

'But Princess Diana was a Princess, right?'

Well, apparently, not. According to the blog, Royal Central, although Diana, Princess of Wales was commonly referred to as 'Princess Diana', she never actually held that title.

Likewise, if Prince William one day becomes King, the Duchess of Cambridge would adopt the title 'HRH The Princess of Wales', but the title of Princess would not, in fact make her a Princess.

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Are you with us so far?

So, if Markle and Prince Harry do decide to tie the knot, the philanthropist would be referred to as 'Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales' as well as another title, depending on her husband's new nobility rank upon marriage.

When Prince William married Kate Middleton in 2011, he was given the hereditary title 'Duke of Cambridge', with Kate subsequently becoming the 'Duchess of Cambridge'.

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Therefore, it is believed Prince Harry would receive a similar title, speculated to be the 'Duke of Sussex'.

Royal Historian Marlene Koenig recently on the blog Royal Musings that Meghan would most likely become the vacant rank of Duchess of Sussex, if Harry was to take on the vacant ranks of nobility.

Clarence and Buckingham are also up for the taking.

Can you just imagine having to sign that every time you received a package from Royal Mail at the door?

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Katie O'Malley
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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.