Sources suggest that when Prince William eventually becomes king, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet—will be excluded from official royal duties.
The 43-year-old Prince of Wales began preparing for his future role after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. Insiders claim William is shaping his own vision for the next generation of working royals, one that reportedly leaves six-year-old Archie and four-year-old Lilibet outside the royal fold.
A Shift in William’s Approach Toward Harry
“What has struck me the most recently is that he just doesn’t mention it at all,” a source told The Times, referring to William’s current attitude toward his estranged brother.
The insider explained that William once devoted significant emotional energy to his relationship with Harry, describing it as “very close” and admitting he was deeply upset by the fallout. “But he’s not letting it get to him at all anymore. It is a change. It’s sad, but it’s a much healthier space for him to be at,” they added.
Although William felt strong “anger” following the release of Harry’s memoir Spare in 2023, he is now said to be largely “indifferent” about their rift.
Titles and the Future of Archie and Lilibet
Reports indicate that Harry wishes to retain his children’s HRH titles, giving them the choice later in life to either participate in royal duties or continue building their lives in the United States.
However, William appears to share the sentiment of some Britons who recently told The Post that “enough is enough” and called for the Sussexes’ royal titles to be removed altogether.
According to The New York Post, Prince Andrew faces similar limitations under William’s future leadership. Seen as both a “risk” and a “threat” to the monarchy, Andrew has already stepped back from royal duties due to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles has supported keeping Andrew’s public appearances restricted, along with those of certain other royals.
William’s Vision for the Monarchy
During a four-day trip to Cape Town for the Earthshot Prize awards, William shared insights into his approach to kingship. “I’m trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation … I’m doing it with maybe a smaller ‘r’ in the royal, if you like,” he said.
His focus, he explained, will be on “impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening and helping people,” adding, “I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well because I really care about what I do.”