The children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are approaching an age where difficult questions about their royal status are becoming inevitable, according to a leading royal commentator.
Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, now five, and his younger sister Lilibet, three, are growing increasingly aware of their unique position within - yet distanced from - the monarchy that defines their heritage.
The Title Controversy
Despite being grandchildren of the monarch, neither child uses the princely titles they became entitled to when King Charles ascended to the throne. This departure from royal protocol has raised eyebrows across the establishment.
"The children are bound to start asking why they're not a prince and princess like their cousins," revealed a palace insider. "It creates an uncomfortable conversation about their place in the family structure."
Growing Identity Questions
Royal expert and author Tom Quinn suggests the children will soon confront their parents about the deliberate distance maintained from royal traditions. "As they grow older and understand more, they'll want to know why they're treated differently," Quinn explained.
The situation becomes particularly poignant given the children's ages. Archie is at an age where school comparisons with classmates begin, while Lilibet will soon start understanding family dynamics more clearly.
California vs Royal Life
Living in Montecito, California, the children experience a world far removed from the palaces and protocols of their British relatives. Yet their royal bloodline remains an inescapable part of their identity.
"Harry and Meghan wanted to protect them from the pressures of royal life," Quinn noted, "but they can't protect them forever from questions about who they are and where they come from."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have consistently emphasized their desire for a normal upbringing for their children, even as they navigate the complexities of their royal connections from across the Atlantic.
