The second son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have an automatic right to American citizenship if he is born in America, as is likely.
The new baby, news of which was announced by the “radiant” couple on Valentine’s Day, will be born in eighth place in the line of succession to the throne and will become the oldest member of royalty in the current line of succession to be born abroad.
Harry maintained his place in the line of succession, despite the couple’s decision to move away from real life and live independently in the United States. But his position and that of his children will continue to descend in the line of succession, since his niece and nephews, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have their own children.
Like his firstborn, Archie, the new baby Sussex will not be entitled, at this stage, to the HRH style – His Royal Highness – or the title of prince or princess due to the rules established by George V. He has the right to be a lord or a ma’am, but Harry and Meghan avoided such a title for Archie, choosing to call him the simple Master, with the surname Mountbatten-Windsor, and will probably do the same for a future son, and Miss, for a daughter.
The baby will be entitled to HRH and prince or princess status once the Prince of Wales – his grandfather – ascends the throne, although it is unlikely that the Sussex will opt for such a change.
Photographer Misan Harriman, a friend of the couple who took a black and white image to mark the announcement of the couple’s new pregnancy, said he captured it remotely on an iPad.
The photo shows the couple sitting under a tree in Los Angeles, with a barefoot Harry resting his hand on Meghan’s face while she is in his lap, with his hand on the baby’s belly.
Harriman, the first black photographer to make a British Vogue cover – and the first to film the September issue – in his 105-year history, said it was an “absolute joy” to be invited to help share the good news, especially after the loss and heartbreak that the couple suffered last year when Meghan miscarried.
From his striking image, Harriman told British Vogue: “With the tree of life behind them and the garden representing fertility, life and moving forward, they didn’t need any direction, because they are, and always have been, waltzing through life together as souls. absolute twins. “
No date for the baby has yet been announced. She will be the eleventh or eleventh great-grandson of the queen and Prince Philip, depending on whether she arrives before Zara Tindall’s baby, who is also due to be born later this year.