The weird reality of what Baby Sussex's life will be like
With the world waiting with bated breath for the announcement of Baby Sussex's arrival, who is due any day now, many have started to wonder what kind of life the newest member of the royal family will lead.
As it’s Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s first child, many are curious as to whether or not the baby will live the same life as its cousins, Prince George, 5, Princess Charlotte, 3, and Prince Louis, 1.
However, there are many differences between Baby Sussex and his/her royal cousins.
Non-working royal
It’s likely Baby Sussex will be in the spotlight of heavy media attention but won’t have a job working full-time for the Queen.
This is the case for Prince Harry and Princess Beatrice. Prince Harry works full-time for the Queen, whereas Princess Beatrice is close to the throne, but not close enough for full-time jobs with the Queen.
Beatrice’s sister Eugenie explained to Vogue magazine how difficult it is being a “working royal”.
“There is no precedent, there is no protocol,” Eugenie told Vogue back in 2018. “We are the first: we are young women trying to build careers and have personal lives, and we’re also princesses and doing all of this in the public eye.”
Not being close enough to the throne to have a full-time job with the Queen could be a blessing in disguise. Royal commentator Victoria Murphy told The Sun that Baby Sussex will have more freedom:
“There’s no chance (Harry and Meghan’s baby) will ever be king or queen — this baby has so much more freedom than William and Kate’s children do,” she said.
She also added they “will not be expected when they get older to carry out full-time royal duties”, meaning they can potentially “carve their own path”.
The same can’t be said for George, Charlotte and Louis, as they will be expected to work as full-time royals throughout their lives.
Social media
Baby Sussex could have a personalised Instagram, as the same restrictions that were posed to Meghan before she was engaged to Prince Harry are unlikely to be forced on her child.
Royal title
Baby Sussex also won’t be born into a title, despite Prince Harry’s status as a “prince”.
According to King George V’s 1917 decree, only the oldest son of the Prince of Wales’ oldest son (Prince William's son Prince George) was entitled to be called his royal highness (HRH) and a prince.
In late 2012, the Queen amended the rule, declaring all of Prince William and Kate’s children would be titled HRH and either prince or princess.
The rule currently doesn’t apply to Baby Sussex, so unless it is amended before the birth, Baby Sussex’s title will be “Lord Mountbatten-Windsor” or “Lady Mountbatten-Windsor”.
As Prince Harry has indicated that he wants his children to live as normal lives as possible, it’s unlikely that the rule will be amended.