Meet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex: What Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's New Royal Titles Mean
It is customary for members of the Royal Family to be offered at least one title by the monarch upon marriage
By Zach Johnson ••
Royal entrances, the exchanging of vows and an emotional tear. These are the best moments from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.
Just a few hours before the royal wedding, Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II had bestowed three titles on her grandson, Prince Harry. His bride, Meghan Markle, will be known as Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex after today's ceremony.
"The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince Henry of Wales. His titles will be Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. "Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and Ms. Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex."
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 19: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle after their wedding on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Danny Lawson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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Meghan Markle, center, and her mother Doria Ragland, left, leave Cliveden House Hotel in Taplow, near London, England, for Markle's wedding to Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
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Meghan Markle arrives for her wedding to Prince Harry at St. George's Chapel.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, walks Meghan Markle down the aisle during her wedding to his son Prince Harry.
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Prince Harry looks at his bride, Meghan Markle, as she arrives accompanied by his father, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.
From left: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank take their seats at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding.
Harry's grandmother Queen Elizabeth, next to her husband Prince Philip, maintained the infamous British stiff upper lip throughout the service.
Prince Harry lifts Meghan Markle's veil during their wedding ceremony in St. George's Chapel.
Prince Harry gets emotional during his wedding to Meghan Markle in St. George's Chapel.
Prince Harry places the wedding ring on Meghan Markle's finger during their wedding service.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle listening to Bishop Michael Curry's sermon during their wedding ceremony in St. George's Chapel.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, depart following their wedding in St. George's Chapel.
The new Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share their first public kiss as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex immediately after their wedding ceremony.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave St. George's Chapel after their wedding ceremony.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle share a kiss on the steps of St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after their wedding.
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Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, kisses his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as they leave St. George's Chapel.
Princess Charlotte and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wave goodbye to Harry and Meghan at St. George's Chapel after the wedding.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George leave St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after the wedding.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave Windsor Castle in the Ascot Landau carriage during a procession after getting married at St. Georges Chapel.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, take a carriage ride after their wedding ceremony.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave Windsor Castle in the Ascot Landau carriage immediately after their wedding ceremony.
The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, leave Windsor Castle for their evening reception. Meghan is wearing an evening gown designed by Stella McCartney u2014 a bespoke lily white high neck gown made of silk crepe. Her shoes are from Aquazurra made in silky satin, with nude mesh, with soles painted in baby blue.
The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, depart Windsor Castle following their wedding for their evening reception at Frogmore House with close friends and family.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, ride in a Jaguar E-Type Zero to their evening reception. The car is fitted with the license plate E190518, their wedding date in English format. The vehicle was initially manufactured in 1968 and has since been converted to electric power.
Prince Harry walks is all smiles with his best man Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, on his wedding day as they arrive at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (second left) and Jessica Mulroney (left) hold bridesmaids' hands as they arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrives at the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle.
Meghan Markle and her page boys arrive at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before her wedding to Prince Harry.
Doria Ragland, the mother of Meghan Markle, arrives at St. George's Chapel.
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrive for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel.
A woman attaches a poster with a photo of Princess Diana outside the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor. The couple commemorated Prince Harry's beloved mother, Princess Diana, at the wedding with a reading from Diana's older sister, Lady Jane Fellowes.
Royal fans soak up the atmosphere during the wedding of Prince Harry Harry to Meghan Markle.
Members of the public arrive by train to Windsor ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle.
Royal fans gather on the streets of Windsor for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Royal fans camp outside Windsor Castle ahead of the wedding of Britain's Prince Harry to Meghan Markle.
Royal fans soak up the cheer during the wedding of Prince Harry Harry to Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel.
Fans of Sussex holds up a likeness of their newest duke and duchess-to-be.
Fans of the royal family wave both British and U.S. flags in recognition of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's trans-Atlantic union.
Crowds cheer during the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle at Cambridge Gate.
Royal family fans celebrate the union between Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Spectators watch the Royal Wedding at Federation Square on May 19, 2018, in Melbourne, Australia. Australians enjoyed the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle televised live across the country on Saturday evening, local time.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave Windsor Castle in the Ascot Landau carriage during a procession after getting married at St Georges Chapel on May 19, 2018.
Alexi Lubomirski
Alexi Lubomirski
Alexi Lubomirski
The previous Duke of Sussex was married twice, but neither marriage was approved by his father. As such, they were considered unlawful. And so, Meghan is the first Duchess of Sussex.
It is customary for members of the Royal Family to be offered at least one title by the monarch upon marriage. The titles, ranked from highest to lowest are: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron for men; and duchess, marchioness, countess, viscountess, and baroness for women.
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Amal Clooney and George Clooney arrive at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
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From left: Abigail Spencer, Priyanka Chopra and a guest arrive at the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.
Oprah Winfrey arrives at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
David and Victoria Beckham arrive at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Actor Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre arrive at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Princess Eugenie, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Princess Beatrice arrive at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Sarah Ferguson arrives for the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 19: David Furnish and Sir Elton John leave St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Ian West- WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Princess Anne, Princess Royal, arrives at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Chelsy Davy arrives at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Actor Cressida Bonas, center, arrives at the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, and Karen Spencer arrive at the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.
Tom Parker Bowles arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
James Middleton arrives at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Giada Lubomirski, center, and Alexi Lubomirski, right, arrive at the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Joss Stone, right, arrives at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle for the wedding of Megan Markle and Prince Harry at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
Pippa Middleton arrives with her husband, James Matthews, at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle before the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, in Windsor, England.
James Corden and Julia Carey arrive for the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.
If the 33-year-old prince had turned down the title, he would've remained HRH Prince Harry of Wales. His 36-year-old bride would have likely been known as HRH Princess Harry of Wales, rather than HRH Princess Meghan, since the former actress is not a princess in her own right.
The Duke of Sussex was widley seen as the most likely choice for Harry, but other possibilities were the dukedoms of Albany, Clarence, Connaught, Cumberland and Teviotdale, and Windsor.
Prince William and Kate Middleton received their titles before their 2011 wedding. "The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince William of Wales. His titles will be Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus," Buckingham Palace said at the time. "Prince William thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Miss Catherine Middleton on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge."
