Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s little daughter have dual nationality?
The couple welcomed their second child, daughter Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, Calif. On Friday June 4. Of course, with the bundle of joy from the California-born royal couple, the arrival of baby Lili raises the question of whether she will have dual citizenship in the US and UK. Is there any special qualification given his father’s royal line, even though he has relinquished his claim to the throne? Here is how it works:
Because Markle is an American citizen and Prince Harry is from the UK, baby Lili will automatically have dual citizenship of both countries.
According to a statement posted on the UK government’s official website, “UK citizenship is normally automatically passed from one generation to the next to children born outside the UK.” So, regardless of where she was born, the couple’s new daughter inherits the citizenship of her father’s country of origin. However, according to this directive, if Lili eventually has her own children outside the UK, they would have to apply for citizenship themselves.
In 2017, Markle was apparently set to apply for British citizenship herself – according to the palace – after marrying Prince Harry. But given how drastically the couple’s life has changed since then, it’s unclear if the Duchess still plans to go through the rather arduous process.
For now, it seems, Harry and Meghan are more than happy to be raising their family in California, away from the rigid glories, palace intrigue and the pressures of living in the heavy shadow of the Crown.
And if you are wondering, yes: Lili’s big brother Archie, born in May 2019, also has dual nationality.
