Meghan Markle's royal title announced as Duchess of Sussex

It’s not long until Meghan Markle becomes an official member of the British Royal Family when she marries Prince Harry on May 19.

But what will her title be?

Contrary to the belief of many, the actress and humanitarian will not become a princess.

When Prince William married Catherine Middleton, the pair became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The assumption that Prince Harry would be give a royal dukedom after marrying has now been officially confirmed by Kensington Palace.

Today the palace announced that Prince Harry will be granted a dukedom and a new title following his marriage to Markle.

The sixth-in-line to the throne will become HRH Duke of Sussex, while Markle will become HRH Duchess of Sussex.

Prince Harry's titles will include Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.

There has only been one Duke of Sussex before - the previous one was married twice but both marriages were considered unlawful as the Duke did not gain approval from his father, George III.

Markle will become the first woman to hold the title HRH The Duchess of Sussex.

The prior prediction that Markle could have become the Duchess of Connaught was not been well received by many Irish people.

Some were up in arms because Connaught is in the Republic of Ireland, not in the UK. The dukedom was first created by Queen Victoria who bestowed the title on her third son, Arthur, in 1874. It hasn’t been used for the past 70 years.

Other options for the soon-to-be royal couple included the Duke and Duchess of Clarence and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

As well as becoming a duchess, Markle, who is best known for her role in American legal drama Suits, will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales.

If the couple choose to have children, they will be lords and ladies, not princes and princesses.

This article has been updated. It was originally published in April 2018.