King Charles and Prince William could have a major say

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King Charles and Prince William could have an important say in Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor’s future relationships.

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “resigned” as senior royals and moved into their Santa Barbara mansion, their two children, Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, have only returned to the UK once. It was thought to be a magical moment for the royals, with accounts of King Charles being thrilled to meet Lilibet for the first time. Although they may not see His Majesty or her uncle the Prince of Wales very often as they live on different sides of the pond, King Charles and Prince William could have an important say in their future romantic relationships when they grow up.

(Credit: Photo by Toby Melville – Pool/Getty Images)

According to Town&Country (opens in new tab), the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 means that the first six people in the royal line of succession will apply – and most importantly, receive! – Consent of the monarch before marriage. Archie is currently sixth and Lilibet seventh in line to the throne. So if King Charles is still monarch when his grandson wants to marry, Archie would technically have to get his permission while Lilibet wouldn’t.

But that could all change if Prince William is king by then, as she would have risen to sixth in line and would have to ask her uncle for permission. Either way, both King Charles and Prince William could have a major impact on Archie and Lilibet’s future.

(Credit: Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty)

In line with this royal rule, at least one of them will also have a say if Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis also want to get married one day. This requirement to ask permission before proposing and planning a royal wedding might come as a shock to many fans – and it apparently came as a surprise to Archie and Lilibet’s father, Prince Harry.

In Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, he reflected on the moment he had to ask the late Queen’s permission to marry Meghan and the Queen’s cheeky response.

“I’ve been told I need to ask your permission before I can propose,” he apparently said at the time, with the Queen reportedly replying, “You have to?”

(Credit: Photo by Steve Parsons – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Her grandson said he was surprised by her remark after being told he needed her permission, apparently wondering if she was joking or if she had even agreed. He was later reportedly told by the Queen, “Well then I guess I’ll have to say yes.”

Prince Harry also told Spare that he believed it “didn’t make sense” to have to ask, even though being sixth in line to the throne follows the rule as it did then.

And while the Duke of Sussex might think it’s a bit unusual to have to ask his grandmother’s permission before asking Meghan the question, her children will likely have to have the same experience with their grandfather or uncle someday in the future.