Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to have encountered significant delays when applying for British passports for their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. What should have been a routine process taking around three weeks reportedly stretched to nearly six months—raising concerns and suspicions from the couple.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the delay may have been influenced by internal resistance within the British establishment, possibly including King Charles III himself. The speculation arises from the fact that the passport applications referred to the children by their royal titles—”His Royal Highness” and “Her Royal Highness”—and used the surname “Sussex,” which the couple has adopted for their family since 2023. Notably, Archie previously held a passport using the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

The use of royal titles has been a point of tension ever since Harry and Meghan stepped back from their official duties in 2020. Though their children became eligible for the HRH titles after Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, there has been ongoing debate about whether the titles should be formally recognized or used in official documents.

Throughout the application process, Harry and Meghan reportedly received multiple explanations from the UK Home Office citing “technical issues” as the reason for the delay. At one point, the couple tried to expedite the process through the UK’s 24-hour emergency passport service, but their appointment was suddenly canceled due to a supposed “system error.”