Why Meghan Markle will never be Princess Meghan after marrying Prince Harry

The couple are expected to become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

In the eyes of many, the prospect of a normal woman marrying a prince and becoming a princess is the ultimate fairytale.

So of course, American actress Meghan Markle’s newly announced engagement to Prince Harry has been met with much excitement.

Many Americans are delighting over the fact that Markle is set to become a princess - except she’s not.

Markle will never become Princess Meghan - she’s most likely to be a duchess, much like Kate Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge when she married Prince William.

Once Harry and Meghan tie the knot, she will take his title and name.

This means Markle will become Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales, alongside any other title the Queen chooses to give her.

However it’s likely that Prince Harry will be given a dukedom, so Markle will become a duchess like Catherine.

“Most likely, he will be created a Duke,” Royal historian Marlene Koenig told Royal Central.

“Sussex is available so [Meghan] would be HRH the Duchess of Sussex. Her rank would be a princess by marriage of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”

If Harry remains a prince, Markle will be an unofficial princess.

Only those born into the royal family can use the title Prince or Princess, followed by their first name - Prince George, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, for example.

Princess Diana was never an official princess, and Markle may be treated much the same.

But this isn’t stopping many Americans in particular clinging on to the idea of Markle becoming a princess.

If Harry and Meghan have any children, they will become lords and ladies, rather than Princes and princesses - unless the Queen steps in.