Will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Baby Be an American Citizen?
With Meghan Markle and Prince Harry preparing to welcome their first child together, royal fans have so many questions about the couple’s baby.
While we already know that Meghan and Harry’s child will be seventh in line to throne, it’s yet to be revealed whether the duchess is expecting a boy or a girl, or whether the baby will hold British or American citizenship.
Here’s everything we know so far about the royal baby’s citizenship.
The royal baby will definitely be a British citizen.
According to U.K. government guidelines, if at least one of the parents of the child is a British citizen during the time of the baby’s birth, the baby is automatically classed as British. The Associated Press confirms the royal baby will “have British citizenship due to its father.” Since the baby is the child of two members of the British royal family, it makes sense they will also be a British citizen at birth.
The child will need to acquire American citizenship.
According to the U.S. government’s official guidelines, “A child born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth if certain statutory requirements are met.” As Meghan was born and raised in California, and has resided in the United States for at least five years after the age of fourteen, her child would thereby be eligible for American citizenship.
Meghan and Harry will need to “contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America,” per the official guidelines. And as Associated Press reports, “It will be up to them to decide if they want to do so,” meaning that Meghan and Harry could choose to forgo joint citizenship for their child. Without the appropriate paperwork filed, the royal baby won’t technically be an American, according to Reader’s Digest.
Meghan plans to become a British citizen.
A spokesperson for the royal family announced (via CNN) in November 2017 that Meghan intended to start the process for gaining British citizenship following her wedding to Prince Harry, which took place in May 2018.
The BBC reported in December 2017 that Prince Harry’s communications secretary at the time, Jason Knauf, revealed that Meghan would be “compliant with immigration requirements at all times.” He continued, “I can also say she intends to become a U.K. citizen and will go through the process of that, which some of you may know takes a number of years.”
While it’s unclear how far into the process Meghan is, it’s probable she’ll still be an American citizen when her first baby is born. If that’s the case, then her baby will be eligible for dual citizenship.
If the royal baby is a U.S. citizen, there will be tax implications.
As an American citizen who is also a member of the British royal family, Meghan’s tax situation is complicated. CNN reports that “Meghan will be obliged to file a U.S. tax return and to report any foreign accounts, assets over $200,000,” unless she ever decides to renounce her American citizenship and become a full-time British citizen. But as CNN explains, even if Meghan does renounce her U.S. citizenship, “the couple’s baby will still be liable for US taxes until the age of 18” if the child holds dual-citizenship.
As ABC News royal correspondent Victoria Murphy revealed via Good Morning America, “From what I understand, Harry and Meghan will have to acquire documentation for their child to prove U.S. citizenship and it’s not clear if they will do that but of course the option is there.” GMA also pointed out that, if Meghan and Harry’s child does hold dual citizenship, it will be “a first for a royal baby.”
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