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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have publicly used the titles prince and princess for their children Archie and Lilibet for the first time.

They used the title princess for their daughter, known as Lili for short, when she was christened in Los Angeles on Friday.

It was the first time Lilibet has been publicly referred to as a princess.

Why did Archie and Lilibet not previously have their royal titles?

Technically Harry and Meghan’s children became a prince and princess when the King acceded to the throne, but they have remained “master” and “miss” on the Buckingham Palace website for the last six months.

The palace has confirmed the site’s line of succession list would now be updated to reflect the change, after a spokesperson for the Sussexes publicly referred to Lilibet as a princess when announcing news of her christening.

Title rules set out by King George V in 1917 gave the children and grandchildren of a sovereign the automatic right to the HRH, prince and princess titles.

When Archie was born, he was the great-grandchild of a sovereign rather than a grandchild, so was not given the title.

However, when the Queen died and her son King Charles acceded to the throne, it meant Archie and Lilibet were entitled to be a prince and princess.

They are also entitled to use the HRH style – although Harry and Meghan retain their HRH styles, they no longer use them after leaving the working monarchy.

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Charles ‘very emotional’ at first meeting with Lilibet

Lilibet at an 'intimate and casual backyard picnic' for her birthday. Pic: Misan Harriman
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Lilibet. Pic: Misan Harriman

How will the titles be used?

It is understood the titles will be used in formal settings but not in everyday conversational use.

As such, the announcement of Lillibet’s baptism in California was the first opportunity to use her title since the death of the Queen.

Harry and Meghan are keen not to deny their children their birthright, but wish to allow them the chance to decide for themselves when they are older whether to drop or keep using the royal titles.

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Meghan claimed Archie was not given title because of his race

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan complained that Archie was not automatically given the title of prince.

“They didn’t want him to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol, and [said] that he wasn’t going to receive security,” Meghan said.

Asked if she was bothered her son was not going to be given the title, she said: “All the grandeur surrounding this stuff is an attachment I don’t personally have. I have been a waitress, an actress, a princess, a duchess, and I’ve always just been Meghan.

“The most important title I will ever have is Mom but the idea of our son not being safe and also the idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be…”

She said the convention of whether her children would be princes or princesses was changed while she was pregnant: “It’s not their right to take it away… While I was pregnant they said they want to change the convention for Archie. Well, why?”

However, when he was born seventh in line to the throne in May 2019, Archie was too far down the line of succession – though he was a great-grandchild of the monarch, he was not a first-born son of a future king, so was not automatically a prince.

Could King Charles remove Archie and Lilibet’s royal titles?

It was previously reported in 2021 that Charles intended, when he became monarch, to prevent Archie from becoming a prince in a bid to limit the number of key royals.

To do so he would have to issue a Letters Patent amending Archie’s right to be a prince and Lilibet’s right to be a princess.

It is understood the King was aware beforehand that the Sussexes intended to refer to their daughter as Princess Lili.

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Boy, 14, stabbed to death on bus in Woolwich, southeast London

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Boy, 14, stabbed to death on bus in Woolwich, southeast London

A 14-year-old boy has been stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich, in southeast London.

Police were called around 2.30pm to reports of a stabbing on a bus on Woolwich Church Road near the junction with the A205 South Circular Road.

A boy who police said had received stab wounds was treated by paramedics, but he died at the scene shortly after they arrived.

Officers have launched an investigation into the incident.

No arrests have been made so far but police are appealing for witnesses of the incident on the 472 bus.

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A cordon and road closures were in place as of shortly before 5pm.

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Liverpool hospital declares critical incident over ‘exceptionally high’ demand on A&E amid rising flu cases

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Liverpool hospital declares critical incident over 'exceptionally high' demand on A&E amid rising flu cases

The Royal Liverpool University Hospital has declared a critical incident due to “exceptionally high” demand on A&E and patients being admitted to wards.

The hospital said there had been a spike in people with flu and respiratory illnesses going to emergency departments in recent weeks.

The number of people in England’s hospital with flu quadrupled in the last month, according to NHS data.

A spokesperson for the hospital said it had a “comprehensive plan in place” and was “taking all the necessary actions to manage the challenging circumstances”.

“We are working with partner organisations to ensure those that are medically fit can leave hospital safely and at the earliest opportunity,” they added.

The hospital warned some people would experience delays as it prioritises the sickest patients.

People whose case isn’t an emergency are being asked to see their GP, pharmacy or walk-in centre – or call the 111 service for advice.

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The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is in the city centre and is the biggest hospital in Merseyside and Cheshire.

Declaring a critical incident can happen when a hospital is experiencing exceptional demand, or sometimes if there is a serious problem with staffing levels.

It indicates it can’t function as normal and allows it to take extra measures to protect patients, such as prioritising the most unwell people and getting support from other agencies.

It could last hours, a few days, or weeks if necessary.

A critical incident was also declared on Friday by the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.

It said it had seen almost four times as many inpatients compared with last year and urged people with flu to avoid going to A&E.

Read more from Sky News:
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There have been warnings this winter of a so-called “quad-demic”– with flu, vomiting bug norovirus, COVID and RSV circulating at the same time.

The NHS provides vaccinations against three of the four; flu, COVID-19 and RSV (a common cause of chest infection in babies).

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Zendaya and Tom Holland engagement rumours swirl after Golden Globes

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Zendaya and Tom Holland engagement rumours swirl after Golden Globes

Zendaya and Tom Holland are rumoured to be engaged after the 28-year-old actress appeared at the Golden Globes wearing a massive diamond ring on her left ring finger.

They met after working together on 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and confirmed their relationship in 2021.

Sky News has contacted representatives for Zendaya and Holland for comment.

Zendaya and Tom Holland pose for photographers at the photo call for the film ''Spider-Man: No Way Home''.
Pic:Invision/AP
Image:
Zendaya and Tom Holland pose for photographers at the photo call for the film ”Spider-Man: No Way Home”. Pic: Invision/AP

Zendaya chatted to journalists on the Globes red carpet, where she was nominated for best actress in a musical or comedy for her role in the romantic sports drama Challengers.

Despite being pipped to the prize by Demi Moore, who won for her role in body horror The Substance, there was plenty of buzz around Zendaya’s large diamond ring, which was clearly visible throughout the show.

A Los Angeles Times reporter appeared to ask Zendaya about it, holding up her own engagement ring and pointing to it. Zendaya responded by showing her left-hand ring.

Zendaya arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes.
Pic: Invision/AP
Image:
Zendaya arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes. Pic: Invision/AP

The reporter then asked if the actor was engaged and “she kept showing her ring, smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders mysteriously”.

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Holland, who is also 28, wasn’t at Sunday’s Globes.

Zendaya arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes.
Pic:Invision/AP
Image:
Zendaya arrives at the 82nd Golden Globes. Pic: Invision/AP

Zendaya wore an orange Louis Vuitton ball gown, and diamond jewellery from Bulgari – for which she’s an ambassador – on the Globes red carpet.

But while the Dune star’s other jewellery items were listed in a press release, there was no mention of the ring on her left finger.

Zendaya, who rose to fame after her breakout role in Disney sitcom Shake It Up, became a household star after starring in Euphoria.

Tom Holland, who is the son of British actor/comedian Dominic Holland, won a role in Billy Elliot The Musical as a child, and has gone on to achieve global fame playing Spider-Man in six Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.

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