Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced prolonged difficulties in securing UK passports for their children, Archie and Lilibet — issues they believed may have involved royal interference, according to The Guardian.

A source close to the couple said, “Harry was at a point where British passports for his children with their updated Sussex surnames (since the death of Queen Elizabeth II) were being blocked with a string of excuses over the course of five months.”

Although standard processing takes around three weeks, the Sussexes reportedly waited nearly six months. After receiving repeated explanations citing technical issues, they reapplied through the UK’s expedited 24-hour service. That appointment was later cancelled due to a “systems failure.”

The applications included the titles His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) and used the surname “Sussex,” which the family adopted publicly in 2023. Until then, Archie held passports under the name Mountbatten-Windsor. “There was clear reluctance to issue passports for the kids,” a source said.

Legal representatives for the couple eventually threatened to file a data subject access request — a move that could have revealed internal government communications related to the delays.

The passports were issued shortly afterward. Another source noted that King Charles III had not supported the use of HRH titles and considered the passports to be “the only legal proof of their names.”

The Guardian reported that both the Home Office and Buckingham Palace were asked whether royal advisors were involved in the process. The Home Office said it does not comment on individual cases. Buckingham Palace also declined to comment on private matters but denied having offered guidance or objections concerning the HRH titles.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex said, “We do not comment on private issues pertaining to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children.” Earl Spencer, Harry’s uncle and the brother of the late Princess Diana, was reportedly contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.

In a separate development, Harry lost a legal challenge in May regarding his entitlement to taxpayer-funded security while in the UK. He is expected to appeal the decision.

Around the same period, he also expressed frustration over the handling of his children’s documentation and consulted his uncle Earl, saying, “My family are supposed to have the same name and they’re stopping that from happening because the kids are legally HRH, so if push comes to shove, if this blows up and they won’t let the kids be called Sussex, then can we use Spencer as a surname?”

The report also stated that Harry wishes to retain his children’s HRH titles so they can decide for themselves, later in life, whether to assume royal responsibilities. He and Meghan agreed to stop using their own HRH styling in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties under an arrangement with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The couple were reportedly angered by a recent Mail on Sunday article claiming Earl Spencer advised against changing the children’s names due to legal complications. A source close to the Sussexes rejected the report as “completely untrue.”

Online responses ranged from criticism to calls for reconciliation. One commenter wrote, “He is a bitter king [sic].” Another questioned the motive, “They need to just stop! Why would King Charles do that, they are his grandchildren.”

A different commenter defended the monarch, “Oh please give me a break…stop lying on the King who’s suffering from cancer.” Someone else reflected on the family dynamics, “It’s sad that they can’t all mend fences so the kids can get to know the other part of their family.”

Another typed, “Just another excuse to not take the kids to see their Grandfather. Archie already has a passport since flew out of U.K. years ago.” One netizen remarked, “These two need to make up their minds what those poor kids surname is, you can’t keep changing children’s surnames.”

A critical voice added, “They always blame Charles instead of looking at their part in the situation. This keeps the children in hiding still. That’s what narcissists do. They aren’t liked in either country.”

One person expressed disbelief, “What a disgrace, if it’s true, that the King of England won’t permit his own grandchildren to use their legally sanctioned title on their passports!” Another argued, “This is pathetic!!! The King does NOT have those powers & Hazbeen knows it 🙄.” Someone else commented dismissively, “Just let it go already 🙄.”

Following the legal setback, Harry also spoke candidly about where things stand with his family and what he believes is keeping them apart.

He said he is willing to reconcile with his family, but insists that efforts to mend ties may not go anywhere if his relatives are unwilling to meet him halfway.

Speaking to BBC News in a newly aired interview recorded after the loss of his legal appeal over royal security, the Duke of Sussex expressed a mix of sadness, urgency, and clarity about his future.

“I would love reconciliation with my family,” he said. “There’s no point continuing to fight anymore. As I said, life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has. You know, he won’t speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile.” He added, “If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”

The interview came shortly after a U.K. court dismissed his attempt to overturn the government’s decision to downgrade his police protection when he is in Britain. Harry had argued that the ruling subjected him to “unjustified and inferior treatment.” However, on May 2, 2025, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision, rejecting his claim.

During his conversation with BBC’s Neda Torfić, Harry said he was “Obviously, pretty gutted about the decision.” The prince, who is now 40, also said he is currently unable to return to the United Kingdom with his wife and children. “We thought it was going to go our way, but it certainly hasn’t,” he shared.

The Duke, who resides in California with his wife, Meghan, and their children, said he has only returned to the U.K. for funerals, court hearings, and the occasional charity event.

“I put myself at risk for that, but I will continue on with a life of public service,” he said. “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point. And the things that they’re going to miss is—well, everything. [sic]”

The tension between Harry and the royal institution appears to hinge largely on his loss of security. “Just because you spoke there about forgiveness—it sounds like the last step to repairing relations with your family is the security issue, by what you said there,” Torfić noted.

“One hundred percent,” Harry replied. “Whatever noise has been created, whatever stories have been written—this has always been the sticking point.” He went on to explain how the decision to remove his protection in 2020 stunned him.

“God forbid anything should happen. And I don’t regret that at all,” he said of his decision to step away from royal duties. “I thought with all the disagreements and all of the chaos that’s happening, the one thing that I could rely on is my family keeping me safe.”

But instead, he said, “Not only did they decide to remove my security in the U.K., but they also signaled to every single government around the world not to protect us.” Harry shared that the effect of the ruling is deeply personal.

Reflecting on the rift, Harry acknowledged that some wounds may never fully heal, saying, “Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course they will never forgive me for lots of things.” Still, he expressed, “It would be nice to reconcile.”

The idea is one Harry said he learned while engaging with First Nations communities in Canada through the Invictus Games. “Their goal in life was always truth and reconciliation,” he explained. “And I turned around to them in many conversations—I said, ‘Right, but reconciliation can’t come without truth.'”

“Well, I’ve now found out the truth. I’ve shared some of it with you today. A lot of it exists out there—whether people choose to ignore it or not,” he said. “So it would be nice to have that reconciliation part now. If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”

In response to the BBC segment, Buckingham Palace issued a statement. “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion,” stated a spokesman.

Harry’s desire to return to the United Kingdom has been complicated not just by legal outcomes but also by public opinion.