Meghan and Prince Harry’s second baby will “automatically” receive both US and UK citizenship if the Duchess of Sussex gives birth in her homeland. Royal expert Victoria Murphy took to Twitter to clarify which status Baby Sussex will have in Britain if it is born abroad.
She wrote: “For those interested, Baby Sussex two will, of course, be a US citizen (if as we assume he/she is born in the US).
“He/she will also automatically be a British citizen according to these government guidelines”.
Ms Murphy then cited Government rules on citizenships applicable to people who were born outside of the UK after July 1, 2006, from at least one British parent.
Government guidelines state: “You’re automatically a British citizen if you were born outside the UK and all of the following apply:
“You were born on or after 1 July 2006;
“Your mother or father was a British citizen when you were born;
“Your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you.”
Prince Harry can pass on his citizenship to his future child as he was also born in the UK in 1984.
READ MORE: Queen ‘caught off guard’ by Meghan Markle’s baby announcement
The Government guidelines on who can pass on their citizenship read: “Your British parent could pass on their citizenship to you if they were one of the following:
“Born or adopted in the UK;
“Given citizenship after applying for it in their own right (not based on having a British parent);
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“Working as a Crown servant when you were born (for example in the diplomatic service, overseas civil service or armed forces)”.
Guidelines warn a child who automatically gains British citizenship after being born outside of the country won’t be able to automatically pass on their citizenship to their sons and daughters if they are born outside of the UK.
As a UK citizen, Baby Sussex number two – or his parents – will be able to apply for a letter confirming its citizenship, a child’s passport and, once aged over 16, an adult passport.
Archie, Meghan and Harry’s firstborn, is also believed to have dual citizenship.
The US Department of State allows the baby of an American parent to acquire the country’s citizenship even if the child was born abroad.
The parent must have spent at least five years in the US prior to the arrival of the child – a requirement met by Meghan, who was born and bred in California and only moved to Toronto for her career in her early 30s.
Meghan and Prince Harry shared news of the Duchess’ pregnancy yesterday, on Valentine’s Day.
A spokesperson for the couple said in a statement: “We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.”
Meghan and Prince Harry relocated to the US with their son Archie in late March, a few days before they officially stepped down as senior royals.
Meghan and Harry now live with Archie in the £11million mansion in Montecito they bought during the summer of 2020.
