Since stepping back from their roles as senior royals in January 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have built a new life in Montecito, California, raising their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. However, a recent claim circulating online suggests that Meghan is secretly enrolling her children in royal etiquette lessons, hoping they might one day return to the United Kingdom and assume roles within the royal family, complete with titles. This narrative, while intriguing, lacks direct evidence and appears rooted in speculation about the Sussexes’ intentions. Could Meghan be preparing Archie and Lilibet for a future in the royal fold, or is this a misinterpretation of their efforts to preserve their children’s heritage? This article examines the origins of this claim, Meghan’s own experience with royal etiquette, the status of her children’s titles, and the likelihood of a royal return, drawing on available information and critical analysis.
The Claim: Secret Etiquette Lessons for Archie and Lilibet
The idea that Meghan Markle is providing her children with secret royal etiquette lessons stems from unverified online discussions, possibly on platforms like X, where posts have speculated about the Sussexes’ long-term plans for their children. No major news outlet, such as the BBC, The Guardian, or People, has confirmed this claim, and it appears to be an extension of broader narratives about Meghan’s own etiquette training before her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry and the couple’s efforts to secure royal titles for Archie and Lilibet. A post on X from July 28, 2025, by @MeghanTheQwin indirectly critiques the royal family’s parenting priorities, suggesting Meghan’s focus on her children’s upbringing is deliberate and distinct, which could fuel speculation about structured lessons. However, without specific evidence, this claim remains speculative.
Meghan’s own experience with royal etiquette provides context for why such a rumor might emerge. Before her wedding, Meghan reportedly underwent intensive training to navigate royal protocols, as detailed in a 2018 Mirror report. She was taught how to hold a teacup, walk “the proper way,” dress appropriately, and handle formal dining etiquette by experts like Grant Harrold, a former butler to King Charles. Additionally, Edmund Fry, a British etiquette expert in Pasadena, California, told The Sun that Meghan sought lessons at his Rose Tree Cottage tea room to prepare for meeting Queen Elizabeth II, learning proper fork handling and tea-sipping techniques. These lessons were critical, as Meghan, a former actress from Los Angeles, was transitioning from Hollywood to the rigid traditions of the British monarchy.
The notion that Meghan might extend similar training to her children could reflect a desire to preserve their royal heritage, especially given the couple’s insistence on securing HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles for Archie and Lilibet. A June 2025 report by The Royal Observer noted that Harry and Meghan pushed for their children’s passports to include their princely titles, a process complicated by UK officials’ reluctance until legal action was threatened. Royal commentator Richard Eden suggested this emphasis on titles could be a “backdoor” strategy for the Sussexes to maintain royal ties, potentially paving the way for their children’s future roles.
Archie and Lilibet’s Royal Status
Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, born May 6, 2019, and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, born June 4, 2021, became Prince and Princess of Sussex when King Charles ascended the throne in September 2022, per the 1917 Letters Patent, which grant titles to the children of a monarch’s sons. However, the Sussexes’ decision to step back from royal duties in 2020 complicated their children’s status. The couple retained their Duke and Duchess titles but lost the use of HRH, and their children were not initially granted HRH status. The passport dispute, resolved in 2025, underscored Harry and Meghan’s determination to ensure Archie and Lilibet’s titles are recognized, as reported by The Guardian. This move suggests a commitment to their children’s royal identity, even from afar.
Meghan’s comments in a March 2025 People interview highlight the emotional significance of the Sussex name: “It’s our shared name as a family, and I guess I hadn’t recognized how meaningful that would be to me until we had children.” She emphasized creating a legacy for Archie and Lilibet, including daily emails to private accounts as digital “time capsules” to capture family moments. This focus on legacy could be interpreted as preparing her children for a future where their royal heritage matters, potentially fueling speculation about etiquette lessons. However, Meghan’s actions, such as featuring Lilibet on the landing page of her lifestyle brand, As Ever, launched in April 2025, suggest she is equally focused on building a distinctly American identity for her family.
The Context of Meghan’s Etiquette Training
Meghan’s own etiquette training was extensive but not without controversy. A 2021 Express report cited a royal source claiming Meghan underwent a “crash course” with a trusted coach, covering silver service and elocution, to avoid the isolation experienced by Princess Diana. Samantha Cohen, a trusted aide to Queen Elizabeth II, mentored Meghan for six months before and after her wedding, guiding her through palace protocols. However, Meghan later claimed in her 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview and the book Finding Freedom that she received little formal guidance, a contradiction that sparked debate. Some sources, like Film Daily, suggest she sought out lessons independently, reflecting her proactive approach to adapting to royal life.
Royal etiquette includes nuanced rules: maintaining a “duchess slant” when sitting, avoiding public displays of affection (PDA), entering rooms in order of precedence, and wearing nude pantyhose. Meghan frequently broke these norms, as noted in a 2020 Cosmopolitan article, by going bare-legged, wearing bold makeup, and showing affection with Harry during engagements. These breaches were seen as both rebellious and modernizing, but they also fueled perceptions of disrespect, such as when she crossed her legs at a 2018 event with the Queen, later correcting to the “Sussex slant.”
If Meghan were to enroll Archie and Lilibet in etiquette lessons, it could mirror her own preparation, teaching them to navigate formal settings, address nobility, or uphold royal decorum. However, at ages 6 and 4, such training would likely be informal, perhaps integrated into their upbringing to familiarize them with their heritage. A 2024 GB News report quoted a family friend saying the Sussexes plan to discuss their royal heritage with their children “in due time,” prioritizing their identity as individuals over their titles. This suggests any “etiquette lessons” might be less about formal protocol and more about cultural awareness.
A Royal Return: Plausible or Wishful Thinking?
The idea of Archie and Lilibet returning to the royal family with active roles is complicated by the Sussexes’ strained relationship with the monarchy. Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare and the couple’s 2022 Netflix series Harry & Meghan detailed allegations of mistreatment, including a lack of security and racial bias, deepening the rift. A 2025 Daily Express report cited an insider stating there is “no hope” for Harry to mend fences as long as Meghan is involved, with the royal family distrusting her intentions. A psychic’s prediction in Yahoo echoed this, claiming reconciliation is unlikely for eight to ten years.
Despite this, Harry has expressed a desire for his children to know their UK heritage, telling the High Court in 2023, “The UK is central to the heritage of my children.” The passport dispute indicates the couple values their children’s titles, which could facilitate future roles, as suggested by Richard Eden’s “backdoor” theory. However, Meghan’s focus on her Montecito-based ventures—her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and As Ever brand—suggests a commitment to an independent life. Her comments in a 2025 Times of India podcast about creating “Mama Meals” for her children’s memories prioritize a personal, non-royal legacy.
The royal family’s structure also limits the plausibility of Archie and Lilibet assuming significant roles. With Prince William and his three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—securing the line of succession, the Sussex children, fifth and sixth in line, are unlikely to have official duties unless the monarchy undergoes drastic reform. A 2025 X post by @Fibutton suggested the Sussexes felt “surplus to requirements” after the Cambridges solidified their position, hinting at their motivations for leaving.
Critical Analysis and Public Sentiment
The claim about secret etiquette lessons lacks substantiation and may reflect public fascination with the Sussexes’ royal ties. Social media, particularly X, amplifies such narratives, with posts like @Bolto1964’s questioning Meghan’s truthfulness about her own training, suggesting a pattern of skepticism. The absence of concrete evidence suggests this story may be a projection of fears that Meghan seeks to leverage her children’s titles for influence, as Eden implied. Conversely, her actions—shielding Archie and Lilibet from media scrutiny and focusing on their Montecito upbringing—indicate a desire for privacy, not a royal comeback.
The Camp Mystic tragedy, referenced in unrelated search results, offers no parallel but underscores the public’s appetite for dramatic narratives about missing or endangered children, which may amplify speculation about Archie and Lilibet’s future. The Sussexes’ security concerns, highlighted in a 2025 BBC report, further suggest they prioritize safety over public roles, making a return to the UK’s “goldfish bowl” unlikely.
Conclusion
The idea that Meghan Markle is secretly preparing Archie and Lilibet for royal life through etiquette lessons is an intriguing but unverified claim, likely born from her own documented training and the couple’s efforts to secure their children’s titles. While Meghan and Harry value their royal heritage, their focus on building a private, independent life in Montecito, coupled with the royal family’s strained dynamics, makes a return improbable in the near term. Archie and Lilibet may grow up aware of their titles, but any “etiquette lessons” are likely informal, aimed at cultural connection rather than a strategic bid for royal roles. As Meghan builds her brand and legacy, her children’s future seems rooted in California, not Kensington Palace, though the world’s fascination with their royal potential endures.
