Prince Harry wants his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to have the freedom to choose their own paths — including the option to become working royals one day.

Following a report in The Guardian, it has been widely noted that the Duke of Sussex wants his children with wife Meghan Markle to retain their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles — giving Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, the choice to potentially have royal roles in the future or lead more private lives.

However, The Sunday Times reported on June 21 — in a piece tied to Prince William’s 43rd birthday — that there is “bemusement in royal circles” at the idea, and that roles for Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, are unlikely under William’s reign.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Prince Harry said, “We do not comment on private issues pertaining to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children.”

The ongoing rift between Harry and his brother Prince William has been well documented, including in Harry’s memoir Spare. But according to The Sunday Times, a friend of Prince William’s says the heir to the throne’s perspective on the estrangement has shifted.

“What has struck me the most recently is that 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,” the friend told the outlet. “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.”

The Guardian also reported that recent passport applications for Archie and Lilibet were delayed after being submitted with the HRH titles included. A legal source told the outlet that British government officials appeared to be “dragging their feet,” and that the delay — which stretched nearly six months — became a point of frustration for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. (Standard passport processing time in the U.K. is typically about three weeks.)

One source claimed, “The ng hadn’t wanted Archie and Lili to carry the titles, most of all the HRH, and the British passports, once created, would be the first and perhaps the only legal proof of their names.”

Buckingham Palace strongly denied the claim that the King or any of his officials had any role in the delay, The Daily Telegraph reports.

According to The Guardian, “Harry was at a point where British passports for his children with their updated Sussex surnames (since the death of Queen Elizabeth II) were being blocked with a string of excuses over the course of five months.”

Harry consulted his uncle Charles Spencer about the possibility of using the Spencer surname during the impasse.

“There was clear reluctance to issue passports for the kids,” a source close to the Sussexes said, according to the outlet.

A source previously confirmed to PEOPLE that the delay was significantly longer than normal.