Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s hopes were crushed after they announced the royal titles of their children, Archie and Lilibet, a royal expert has claimed.

The announcement was made months after King Charles confirmed various changes to the status of senior members upon his accession to the throne in September 2022.

Just days after succeeding Queen Elizabeth II, the King announced that Prince William and Kate, who was then the Duchess of Cambridge, would be titled as Prince and Princess of Wales.

He also confirmed Prince Harry and Meghan’s decision to give official titles to Archie and Lilibet, and additionally announced that his younger brother Prince Edward and his wife Sophie would take on the titles of Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

A royal expert and editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward noted it was “interesting” Harry and Meghan waited six months to announce their children’s new titles – and believes they were waiting for Buckingham Palace to “jump the gun”.

She told Mirror Online: “They have been allowed to use this style since their great-grandmother died, but their parents have chosen not to until now. How interesting they waited six months to do this.

”They were hoping the Palace would jump the gun and announce it before they did. No such luck. Buckingham Palace left its website intact and allowed the Sussexes to make the move themselves so they couldn’t complain.”