Harry and Meghan's son Archie will never be a prince as Prince Charles tries to slim down the eye-watering cost of the monarchy to taxpayers, it is claimed.
The first in line to the throne is reportedly set to cull fringe members of the family, as he believes the public are fed up of footing the bill for hangers-on.
This has reportedly infuriated Harry and Meghan, who are said to have learned about the decision shortly before their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
It has been reported that legal documents will be changed to ensure that Archie will not become a Prince - a title usually bestowed on grandchildren of the monarch.
Charles is said to be worried that the public is getting less keen to fund the lifestyles of more royals, and has clashed with younger brother Andrew over plans to slim-down the monarchy.
The family received a £69.4 million public-funded Sovereign Grant in 2020, but this does not include additional costs such as security, which is funded by police.
Campaign group Republic - which has called for the monarchy to be abolished - estimates the true cost of the royal family to be £345 million per year to taxpayers.
A source told the Mail on Sunday : "Harry and Meghan were told Archie would never be a Prince, even when Charles became King,"
The newspaper says the decision has plunged relations between the Sussexes and the royals to a "dangerous new low".
Sources close to Harry and Meghan - who last year quit as frontline royals after relocating to the US - have previously said they expected Archie to be named a Prince when Charles takes the throne.
They are said to have been shocked to learn that Harry's father will go as far as changing the Letters Patent in order to deny Archie the title.
It looks to be bad news for others as well, with Charles and Andrew clashing over security for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Although the detail has not been made public, it is expected that the slimmed-down monarchy will see full titles given to heirs to their throne and their immediate families.
This would give them access to the Sovereign Grant and police protection.
Archie could have used the title of the Earl of Dumbarton when he was born, but Harry and Meghan are said to have been confident that a more prestigious position would be given to him when Charles becomes king.
It comes after a rocky few months for the royal family after Prince Philip died and the fallout over Meghan and Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Earlier this year the Sussexes made a string of bombshell allegations in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which Harry claimed his brother and dad, Prince Charles, were "trapped" by their positions.
The couple also claimed that a member of the family had made negative remarks about son Archie's skin colour before his birth, and said Meghan was denied support while suffering a mental health crisis.
Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the US.
Earlier this month Meghan gave birth to their second child - Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
Clarence House has declined to comment on the latest reports.
