Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s first child is poised to make history in several ways, not least by becoming the first modern biracial royal in line for the throne. In addition to their place in royal history, the baby will also hold dual citizenship, both American and British, reflecting the couple’s transatlantic heritage. Under U.S. law, a child born abroad to a U.S. citizen automatically acquires American citizenship at birth, provided the parent has lived in the United States or one of its territories for at least five years, two of which must be after the age of fourteen — a condition Meghan easily meets, having been born and raised in Los Angeles. While the baby will be an American citizen from birth, the family will need to report the birth to a U.S. consulate to secure official documentation, including a passport.
The palace has previously confirmed that Meghan intends to pursue British citizenship following her marriage to Prince Harry, a process that is known to be lengthy and complex. While it is still unclear whether she will retain her American citizenship after naturalizing as a Briton, palace officials emphasized that, during the application process, she remains a U.S. citizen. Consequently, if she does not relinquish her American citizenship before the birth, their child will automatically inherit dual nationality, bridging both countries in an unprecedented royal context.
Marrying into the British royal family as a foreigner is historically significant, though in Meghan’s case, the circumstances are markedly different from past controversies. The last American whose marriage created a constitutional crisis was Wallis Simpson, whose relationship with King Edward VIII led to his abdication. Unlike that episode, Meghan’s entry into the royal family has been welcomed, though certain legal and procedural steps, including her path to citizenship, remain to be completed. As Meghan is not marrying the heir apparent and does not possess any royal titles by birth, retaining her American citizenship is far less complicated or controversial than it would have been for previous foreign-born royals.
The question of their child’s future title remains uncertain. Should the baby be a boy, he could carry the secondary Sussex title, Earl of Dumbarton, before eventually inheriting the dukedom. A girl might be styled as Lady [Name] Mountbatten-Windsor. It appears unlikely, however, that the child will receive the designation of prince or princess. While titles remain in flux, the dual citizenship status of the child is a concrete indicator of the evolving nature of the modern monarchy, which now blends longstanding British traditions with the global identities of its members.
This milestone reflects more than just personal circumstances; it highlights the intersection of heritage, citizenship, and royal protocol in a contemporary context. Meghan and Harry’s child embodies both British and American ties, symbolizing a modern monarchy that is increasingly global and diverse. The journey toward British citizenship for Meghan, and the dual-national status of their child, exemplifies how tradition and modernity can coexist — navigating centuries-old structures while embracing a new, multicultural era in the royal family.
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