Prince William Just Made a Big Decision About Archie and Lilibet

Prince William just celebrated his 43rd birthday, and he’s very much thinking about the future. And that future? Let’s just say it’s coming his way very soon. While his father didn’t become king until he was 73, William will likely ascend the throne when he’s a lot younger.

Having endured what he has described as a “brutal year,” coping with both Charles’s and Kate’s cancer diagnoses, the Prince of Wales knows there’s no time to waste in planning for both his role as king and the future of the monarchy. Don’t forget—even in the best of times, the royals leave nothing up to chance, from planning their own funerals early on to having a very rigid line of succession.

And now there’s one more element that William has sorted out, according to a new report, and it affects Archie and Lilibet, Prince Harry’s children. How will the young prince and princess factor into the next incarnation of the monarchy? Read on to learn about William’s surprising decision.

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Where do things currently stand between William and Harry?

Well, they’re not good. The sad reality is that a huge gulf remains between the once-close brothers, who have reportedly not spoken since Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in 2022. Harry and Meghan’s dramatic exit from the royal family, followed by their series of seismic exposés—in an interview with Oprah in 2021, a Netflix documentary in 2022 and Harry’s autobiography, Spare, in 2023—all made his older brother apoplectic.

But while Harry recently told the BBC he would “love a reconciliation,” William’s anger has apparently changed to something much worse: complete indifference. “Anger has subsided to indifference,” according to a source quoted in the Sunday Times. “He just doesn’t mention it at all. It used to be that the family stuff was taking up a lot of space in his head. It was a very close relationship, and he was very upset. 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.”

So what does William have planned for Archie and Lilibet?

rince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter POOL/GETTY IMAGES

Not much! There was reportedly bemusement in the palace regarding an item in the Guardian stating that Harry wants Archie and Lilibet to keep their HRH titles, “so that when they grow older, they can decide for themselves whether they want to become working royals, or stay out of public life.” The children gained the right to use royal titles after the death of Queen Elizabeth, since they became grandchildren of the monarch (King Charles) at that point.

But as for them deciding whether they want to become working royals in the future, it’s not likely to happen. “Under the next reign, roles for Archie and Lili as working royals are unlikely,” writes royal editor Roya Nikkhah in the Sunday Times. Instead, William plans to continue to streamline the monarchy further. This predictably means more work for his trusted cohorts: Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh for now, and his own children (Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis) as they grow older. He’s also reportedly considering giving roles to his cousins—specifically, Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

But as for Archie and Lilibet? Not a chance.

“William obviously isn’t going to hire Archie and Lilibet. This is just trolling on the part of Harry and Meghan,” a friend of William’s told the Daily Beast. “The idea that somehow having a vestigial HRH as a baby later entitles you to be a working royal is beyond parody, even for them.”

Is this a surprise?

Yes and no. It’s shocking, since it’s definitely a bit of a smackdown and closes a door that Harry and Meghan may have wanted to reopen at some point. And let’s not forget this decision involves William’s niece and nephew, not some random, distant relatives. But on the other hand, palace insiders have long known the depth of William’s anger toward Harry and Meghan, so it’s not surprising that he wants to limit their influence and interaction.

Plus, William has recently been making his vision for his future as king clear. “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,” William said in South Africa last November. “So it’s more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening and helping people. I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people’s lives, and I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.”

Could Archie and Lilibet be stripped of their royal titles?

Technically, the titles can’t be “stripped,” but William could ask Archie and Lilibet to stop using them. According to society chronicler Debrett’s, “the only way a peerage can be removed from a title holder is by an Act of Parliament. In practice, this is unlikely to happen.”

On exiting the family, Harry and Meghan were asked not to use their HRH titles commercially. That was a request from Queen Elizabeth. And in 2020, Buckingham Palace said in a (rather terse) statement, “The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.”

Who else will be affected by William’s reported edict?

It’s not good news for Prince Andrew either. “Unsurprisingly, there will be no role for the Duke of York, given his ill-judged friendships with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and more recent dealings with the alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo,” according to the Sunday Times.

Charles has also put some distance between himself and his brother, at least in public. At the recent Garter Day in Windsor, Andrew was missing from the public procession.

However, Andrew’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, continue to enjoy a good relationship with William and Charles. Both appeared at Royal Ascot this year.

Is there any indication King Charles might step down soon?

As of now, no. Despite ongoing speculation over his health and continued cancer treatment, King Charles doesn’t have any plans to abdicate the throne. Like his mother before him, he will likely work until his death. Upon ascending the throne, he declared he was committed to “carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life.”

That means Archie and Lilibet have a little more time on their side before William’s plans take effect. And who knows—maybe that even leaves room for a reconciliation between the brothers first.

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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

The Sunday Times: “How Prince William will change the monarchy, by those close to him”
The Guardian: “Harry and Meghan explored changing surname to Spencer amid children’s passport delays”
The Daily Beast: “William Torpedoes Meghan and Harry’s Plan to Keep Their Kids Royal”
BBC: “Prince Harry’s exclusive interview in full”
The Mail on Sunday: “Prince Harry will extend an olive branch”