It’s almost hard to recall a time when Meghan Markle wasn’t a member of the royal family.
So immersed is the Duchess of Sussex in her royal duties - supporting British organisations such as Smart Works and Grenfell Tower’s Hubb Community Kitchen and a regular at events ranging from the British Fashion Awards to One Young World Summit - that the 38-year-old has expertly carved out a role for herself in her husband’s famous family.
However, two years after announcing her engagement to Prince Harry and relocating from her home in Toronto, Canada, it is believed the royal is yet to receive her British citizenship.
A friend of Meghan reportedly has told the Daily Mail that the royal is still waiting to become a British citizen.
‘It might seem extraordinary, given that she's been married to the Queen's grandson for 18 months, but she accepts that it's a slow process,’ they reportedly told the publication.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson told the Daily Mail that ‘the process takes several years’.
Here’s everything you need to know about Meghan Markle's citizenship:
When did Meghan Markle apply to become a British citizen?
Following her engagement to the Duke of Sussex in November 2017, Kensington Palace announced that the Duchess of Sussex would be applying to become a British citizen.
Prince Harry's communication's secretary, Jason Knauf, said that the former actress would be ‘compliant with immigration requirements at all times.
‘I can also say she intends to become a UK citizen and will go through the process of that, which some of you may know takes a number of years,’ he added.
It is still unknown whether Markle plans to retain her US citizenship and take dual nationality.
What does the British citizenship application process entail?
When you move to the UK, you can apply for citizenship for several reasons, depending on your situation.
To apply as the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen you must have lived in the UK for the last three years and have indefinite leave to remain, settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and a permanent residence document.
Meghan Markle's Favourite Designers
Oscar De La Renta Cape-effect crystal-embellished silk-blend crepe gown
Oscar De La Renta - £2,386
The BBC reports that Meghan will have had to have applied for a family visa (which costs at least £1,464) in order to remain in the UK. In addition, Prince Harry will have to meet a minimum income threshold of £18,600 a year - or have cash savings above £16,000 - to bring Meghan into the country.
Given that it’s believed Prince Harry receives an income via his father Prince Charles's estate and inherited a large inheritance from his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, which was placed in a trust until he turned 30, we think Harry won’t have a problem when it comes to the financial aspect of the application process.
In addition, when someone enters the UK as the fiancée of a British citizen and intends to apply for citizenship, they must marry within six months. Given that Harry and Meghan married in May 2018, they only just complied with this ruling.
A range of documents to prove her relationship with Prince Harry is real might also be required, which could involve Meghan having to provide holiday photos, flight tickets and records of communication with her prince to immigration officials.
As the majority of the world is more than aware of the couple’s relationship, trips to the likes of South Africa, the US and Italy, and the fact they have a son, Archie, together we have a feeling they’ll pass that section with flying colours.
Immigration law organisation Freemovement also states that divorced individuals applying for a fiancée visa must provide evidence that they are divorced. Markle married film producer Trevor Engelson in 2011 before divorcing in 2013, citing ‘irreconcilable differences’.
The organisation's website states: ‘In this respect, Ms Markle has no particular advantage. She would be well advised to provide her divorce certificate.’
Is Archie Harrison a US or British citizen?
The royal couple’s son, Archie Harrison, automatically became a British citizen when he was born in Windsor on 6 May earlier this year as his father is a citizen. Unlike the US, you do not necessarily get British citizenship if you are born in the UK.
It is unknown whether the pair have applied for their little one to have dual citizenship.
According to the U.S. State Department’s website:
A person born abroad in wedlock to a US citizen and an alien acquires US citizenship at birth if the US citizen parent has been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions prior to the person’s birth for the period required by the statute in effect when the person was born.
‘For birth on or after November 14, 1986, the US citizen parent must have been physically present in the United States or one of its outlying possessions for five years prior to the person’s birth, at least two of which were after the age of fourteen.
To put it simply, a child who is born to a married American and non-US citizen gets automatic US citizenship if their citizen parent had been in the country for at least five years prior to the child being born.
As Markle was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, this means that Archie could have dual citizenship and be entitled to a US passport.
This would be incredibly useful for the family this month as the trio plan to spend time in the US for Thanksgiving and Christmas (if only so Meghan and Archie can skip border control queues).
However, if Markle chooses to renounce her US citizenship, it will become less likely that Archie will be granted dual citizenship.
Royal expert Kelly Lynch previously stated that Archie made history as the first Anglo-American to be born into the royal family.
‘No one in royal history has had an American mother,’ Lynch told Time Magazine in October 2018. ‘It will be fairly interesting to see what happens.’
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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.
