Meghan Markle's Change of Heart on Baby Nicknames Following Conversations with Beatrice and Eugenie

Meghan Markle has undergone a change of heart regarding the nicknames for her children after having conversations with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Previously, Markle had downplayed the significance of royal titles, but she has now experienced a radical shift in perspective upon witnessing the advantages they bring to Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.  The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to alter the names of their two children, from Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, has garnered global attention. This change aligns with the regulations outlined in King George V's 1917 Letters Patent, which grants princely titles to the monarch's grandchildren. Prince Harry and Meghan highlighted this rule in their statement at the time, expressing their intention not to bestow such titles upon their children, as they believed it deprived them of their inherent rights.

Despite raising their children in the United States and openly acknowledging their disconnection from the grandeur of royal life during their interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan has had a change of heart. A royal expert speculates that this shift occurred after Meghan conversed with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan relinquished their HRH status when they stepped back from their official roles. However, they are still recognized as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, a title bestowed upon them by the late Queen before their wedding.

During their candid conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan confessed that she personally felt no connection to her royal title or the associated grandeur.  I've always been just Meghan. I've been clear about who I am, regardless of all those things. The most important title I will ever have is mom, and I know that." However, royal expert Neil Shern speculated whether Meghan's perspective on titles had changed after her discussions with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

Shern explained that Harry and Meghan were eager to retain their royal titles. After careful consideration, Meghan concluded that these titles would not only benefit her but also her children. Meghan had developed a close friendship with senior members of the monarchy, primarily Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice. Through these relationships, she recognized the usefulness of a title, particularly when navigating within certain social circles. This is why they desire to preserve their titles. According to Neil, Meghan observed firsthand how advantageous these titles were for her friends, following her association with Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. 

He added, "It really comes down to the fact that she saw how beneficial those titles were for them after her friendship with Bea and Eugenie. Their father, Prince Andrew, had to do everything he could to ensure his children obtained those titles." In March 2023, the couple publicly announced their decision to change the way their children would be addressed, resulting in Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.