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British bub or a Yank young’un: What citizenship will Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s second baby have?

Turns out, it's a layered answer.
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The Internet and news outlets around the world exploded earlier this week when Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announced that they were expecting their second child.

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Dressed down and reclining in the backyard of their California home, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were the picture of bliss in the photo they shared with the world to share their pregnancy news that came just months after Meghan opened up about her heartbreaking miscarriage in an essay for the New York Times.

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However, since the couple have stepped down from their senior royal duties and are living Stateside, this royal baby news is a little different to when their eldest child was born.

Typically, British royal babies are born in Britain (funnily enough) so seeing as Harry and Meghan’s second child will most likely be born in America will they hold American or British citizenship? Turns out, Baby Sussex 2.0 will have both like their big brother Archie.

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WATCH BELOW: Meghan Markle’s rare video appearance: “It’s good to be home.” Post continues after video…

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As fans know, Duchess Meghan was born and raised in Los Angeles and therefore holds US citizenship. She was also reportedly the first modern royal to vote in a US presidential election.

Her husband, meanwhile, was born in London and grew up living a royal life in the British capital thereby holding British citizenship.

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This means that their children can obtain dual citizenship for both countries, regardless of where they are born.

“British citizenship is normally automatically passed down one generation to children born outside the UK,” the UK government states.

Though Harry and Meghan’s second child would still be a British citizen if they’re born outside the UK, any of the Prince’s grandchildren would have to apply for British citizenship if born outside the country.

Harry and Meghan’s children will hold both British and American citizenship regardless of where they’re born.

(Getty)
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Back in 2019, Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor was born at London’s Portland Hospital but is a citizen of both the UK and the US.

Any child born to a married American and non-citizen gets automatic US citizenship as long as the citizen parent had been in America for at least five years before the child was born. Since Meghan didn’t move to London to be with Harry until 2017, it all checks out.

On top of that, seeing as his mother is a US citizen, Archie is also considered a “natural born citizen” and could still technically run for President of the United States should he ever want to pursue a career in politics.

Archie was born at London’s Portland Hospital but is a citizen of both the UK and the US.

(Getty)
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According to PEOPLE, the eldest Sussex child would hypothetically have to go through a naturalisation proceeding and need special permission from Congress to run for the country’s highest office.

Whilst we’re waiting with baited breath for news of the American/British royal baby, Harry and Meghan’s second-born won’t be California’s first royal baby.

In 2013 Lord Frederick Windsor, whose father is the Queen’s cousin, and his wife Sophie Winkleman welcomed their eldest daughter, Maud, at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared their second pregnancy news in February 2021.

(Misan Harriman/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex)
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With the announcement out in the open, the other question on everyone’s lips is when Duchess Meghan’s due date is.

Now To Love previously reported that the Duchess of Sussex was around the 20-week mark in her pregnancy/four to five months pregnant at the time of the announcement making her rough due date approximately late June or early July 2021.

Traditionally, royals tend to not share due date or gender details ahead of time and but even though they’re no longer working royals, we reckon Harry and Meghan will keep the details to themselves.

The Duke and Duchess’ second child will be eighth-in-line to the throne and will be the Queen and Prince Philip’s ninth great-grandchild.

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