Prince Harry engaged: Meghan Markle’s life as a member of the royal family

MEGHAN Markle’s life is about to change forever. And although she will never be known as Princess Meghan, she will receive her very own special royal title.

MEGHAN Markle will never be known as Princess Meghan but can take the name Princess Henry of Wales.

Those who marry into the British royal family are not entitled to be called Prince or Princess in their own right, although they can take the title in conjunction with the name of their spouse.

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For the same reason, the Queen’s husband Prince Philip is not called king.

He renounced the title prince from his original Greek and Danish royal family position but was again granted the title of prince by the Queen in 1957.

Meghan Markle will break convention when she marries into the royal family. Picture: Desiree Navarro/WireImage

His formal title is the Duke of Edinburgh, a title gifted to him by his father-in-law, King George VI, the night before his wedding.

But if Ms Markle and Prince Harry have children, they will be entitled to be called Prince or Princess — but only after the Queen has died.

This is because only the children and grandchildren of the monarch are entitled to be known as prince or princess — so the rule does not apply until Prince Charles, Harry’s father, ascends the throne.

Until that time, any of Ms Markle and Prince Harry’s children would be known as Lord or Lady Mountbatten-Windsor.

At a pinch, Ms Markle may be able to call herself Meghan, the Princess of Wales.

The same rule applied to Charles’ first wife, the late Diana, the Princess of Wales, but it was widely ignored, and she was known as Princess Di.

However, it is much more likely she will be known as Her Royal Highness Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, with the Queen widely expected to bestow the title Duke of Sussex on Harry on his wedding day.

Meghan Markle beams at the Invictus Games, where she made her first appearance with Prince Harry. Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage

Similarly, Prince William’s wife is known as Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

Former Buckingham Palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter told News Corp that if Harry did not receive a dukedom, “he is Prince Henry of Wales and she will be Princess Henry of Wales.’’ Henry is Harry’s formal name.

Prince Philip gave up his Greek citizenship when he married then-Princess Elizabeth 70 years ago, but there is no legal requirement for Ms Markle to renounce her American citizenship.

While Tasmanian woman Mary Donaldson, who married Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, was also required to renounce her Australian citizenship, laws do not ban British royals from marrying foreigners.

Ms Markle may however, choose to do so.

The couple’s relationship has fascinated the public. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

Mr Arbiter said the citizenship issue was “an interesting one”.

“Meghan can marry Harry but it would be in her interest to become a British citizen,’’ he said.

“The problem arises when there are people waiting to become British citizens already.

“It would hit the royal family and the government if she was fast tracked above everyone else.’’

“The only way around that is if she has become a Canadian citizen in the five years she has lived and worked there.

“If she has applied to become a Canadian citizen it would be easier for her because Queen Elizabeth is, like Australia, the Queen of Canada.

“It wouldn’t be as big a problem as her being a US citizen.’’

Ms Markle will be required to abandon her acting career and move to London, where the pair will set up house in one of the royal homes — possibly Kensington Palace. Markle reportedly quit her role on the TV show Suits in October,and was said to have moved out of her Toronto home earlier this month.

Prince Harry is clearly besotted with this new fiancee. Picture: AP

She would also be likely to have to sign an agreement similar to a prenuptial agreement relating to division of assets and custody of any children — who would be expected to remain in the UK in the event their marriage ended.

“She would be giving up a hell of a lot and there’s no going back,’’ Mr Arbiter said.

Ms Markle, like all members of the family, will be required to curtsy to the Queen, to stand when the Queen is standing, to eat only when the Queen is eating, and to remain apart from any politics or controversy.

The Times of London’s royal correspondent Valentine Low told News Corp the marriage would be “fascinating’’.

“Meghan is an interesting person, she’s not your average royal bride,’’ he said.

“Catherine is very dutiful, she absolutely knows what is expected of her and she hasn’t put a foot wrong.

“Meghan is different and interesting — older, mixed race, an actress who has had her own life.’’