Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Is their daughter Lilibet a British or an American citizen?

As Meghan Markle and Prince Harry celebrated the arrival of their daughter, the world wondered what her nationality would be. Is she American or British?

Prince Harry Meghan Markle daughter Lilibet citizenship British American
© Samir Hussein / Getty Images
Prince Harry Meghan Markle daughter Lilibet citizenship British American

On Friday 4 June, 2021, little Lilibet Diana of England was born, much to her parents' delight. In good health, she went home to her big brother, Archie. A big question then shook the world: what nationality would she be? Would she be American or British?

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The birth of Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor

The world was delighted to hear the news. Indeed, a few days after her birth, Lilibet's parents' official foundation website announced the good news:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have welcomed their daughter Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor into the world. Lili was born on Friday June 4 at 11.40 am (...) She weighed 3.4 kg. Mother and child are doing well and have returned home.

The arrival of the little girl caused quite a stir in the media, on social networks and, of course, within the Royal Family back then, mostly because of the history between Prince Harry and Meghan and the rest of the institution.

However the birth of a little baby is always good news, and Queen Elizabeth II, Kate, William, then-Prince Charles and Camilla all sent their best wishes on X (formerly Twitter).

Unlike her brother, Lili was born in Los Angeles, USA. A first in the history of the English royal family. So what is her nationality?

Lilibet of Sussex: an American royal baby?

Since the Megxit, the Sussex couple have left England for the Californian coast. With the arrival of their daughter, Meghan and Harry chose to give birth in a renowned American maternity hospital, bringing in a new tradition. Indeed, this is the first time that a member of the British royal family has been born in another country.

Lilibet, born in LA at the beginning of June 2021, will automatically benefit from American citizenship. She also benefits from the citizenship of her father, Prince Harry, born at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London, on September 15, 1984.

Under British law, citizenship can be passed down through a generation. So no matter where she was born, Lili has British citizenship. The Princess has dual-citizen, therefore she is Anglo-American.

This article has been translated from Oh!MyMag FR.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's daughter Lilibet wasn't the first Royal to be born in US Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's daughter Lilibet wasn't the first Royal to be born in US