If William Becomes King: What Will Happen to Harry’s Children, Archie and Lilibet?

Prince William will eventually ascend to the British throne and will most likely continue to modernize the monarchy. But what does he have in store for his brother Harry’s children, Lilibet and Archie? Will they lose everything?

Archie and Lilibet have held their titles as prince and princess only since King Charles’s accession to the throne. But it is precisely this form of address that could one day be up for debate again. The reason is the assumption that Prince William wants to streamline the monarchy significantly more than before.

Royal expert Emily Andrews believes a tough stance is possible. “To me, it's obvious that King William will, at the very least, strip Archie and Lili of their prince/princess titles,” she explains, according to womanandhome.com.

This assessment is controversial because Archie and Lilibet did not receive their titles through a new conferral, but automatically when their grandfather Charles became king. At the same time, Harry and Meghan are no longer part of the circle of working royals, and their children are also not expected to take on that role.

The debate is therefore not entirely unfounded. Last year, King Charles took steps to strip Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his princely title. Although the circumstances of this case are entirely different due to the allegations against Andrew, it does show that a monarch can take action regarding titles when he deems it necessary.

That is precisely why there is ongoing debate about whether William might take a similarly firm approach in the future. Another possibility being considered is that he might also strip Harry and Meghan of their titles if he wants to establish a more modern and smaller royal family.

The ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the royal family are creating additional pressure. Their candid remarks about the royal family and their life within the system have strained the relationship.

On a personal level, the distance within the family also appears to be significant. It is considered likely that Prince William has not yet met his niece Lilibet in person. One of her two visits to the United Kingdom took place in 2022, but there reportedly was no private meeting between the Waleses and the Sussexes at that time.

In 2026, Prince Harry visited King Charles with his wife Meghan and their two children. However, William is said not to have been present at this meeting, which took place entirely behind closed doors. The rift between the brothers since Harry’s break with his family remains very much evident.

The British monarchy still appears to be mired in a private family crisis. If there is no reconciliation in the coming years, it remains unclear how William, as king, will deal with his niece and nephew.