We know all about the Americans who married into royal families. However, there are some royals who were born as citizens of the United States. Harry and Meghan’s son, Archie, was born the same way, as he was automatically a US citizen by birth through his mother since she has not renounced her American citizenship. It will be the same for the future child of the couple due later this year, and this child will be born on American soil – in his or her mom’s home state of California. Archie and any future children do not currently hold titles, but once Prince Charles becomes monarch, unless a new Letters Patent is issued, the children will be Prince/Princess as the grandchildren of the king.
So, let’s take a look at other blood American royals.
Greece:
All but one of the children of Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece and Crown Princess Marie Chantal were all born in the United States – making them US citizens from birth, as well as members of the Greek Royal Family. Only Prince Odysseas Kimon was born in London in 2004.
The Crown Prince Couple’s children born in the US are:
Princess Maria Olympia, born in New York City in 1996.
Prince Constantine Alexios, born in New York City in 1998.
Prince Achileas Andreas, born in New York City in 2000.
Prince Aristides Stavros, born in Los Angeles in 2008.
Iran:
After the Shah of Iran’s family went into exile, the Shah and Empress’s son, Crown Prince Reza has lived in the United States. He’s married to Yasmine Pahlavi, and they have three daughters – all of whom were born and raised in the US:
Princess Noor (b. 1992)
Princess Iman (b. 1993)
Princess Farah (b. 2004)
Luxembourg:
Princess Charlotte of Luxembourg, the daughter of Prince Charles of Luxembourg and Princess Joan, was born in New York City in 1967. By virtue of her birth on American soil, she was automatically a citizen of the United States.
Charlotte’s younger brother, Prince Robert, married Kentucky native Julie Elizabeth Houston Ongaro in Boston in 1994. They have three children together: Princess Charlotte of Nassau (who was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1995), Prince Alexandre of Nassau (b. 1997 in France), and Prince Frederik of Nassau (b. 2002 in France). All three of their children qualify for US citizenship as their mother is a US citizen, and there has been no record of her renouncing her American citizenship. Even if Julie renounced her US citizenship, her eldest child, Princess Charlotte would be an American due to her birth in Boston.
Monaco:
The Prince and Princess of Monaco’s first child, Princess Caroline was born on 23 January 1957. Before the birth of Caroline, the United States consul in Nice, France, requested that the U.S. State Department make a ruling on the citizenship status of Grace, who retained her American citizenship, and Rainer’s children. Reportedly, the consul was told that their children would be born dual citizens of both the United States and Monaco. Their second child, Prince Albert was born on 14 March 1958. Their third child, Princess Stéphanie was born on 1 February 1965. All three children were born in the Prince’s Palace of Monaco.
Only Prince Albert has been confirmed to have renounced his citizenship which occurred when he turned 21.
Serbia:
Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia resided in the United States for a significant period while married to his first wife, the former Princess Maria da Glória of Orléans-Braganza. They lived in Chicago, Illinois and Fairfax, Virginia.
Together, they had three sons: Hereditary Prince Peter (b. 1980), Prince Philip and Prince Alexander – the latter two are twins born in 1982.
Peter, Philip and Alexander were all born in the United States. Peter was born in Chicago, and his twin brothers were born in Virginia. Therefore, all three princes were born (and still are unless they have renounced) US citizens. The family moved to the United Kingdom two years after Philip and Alexander were born, meaning the children spent a significant period in the UK where they were educated.
Sweden:
In March 2017, the Swedish Royal Court exclusively confirmed to Royal Central Her Royal Highness Princess Leonore’s citizenship status. Whether or not she was a dual, or triple, her citizenship had been the subject of much debate since her birth three years prior to the confirmation from the Court.
Their press secretary confirmed to me that she does, in fact, hold both Swedish and American citizenship. Until now, it was only assumed she held American citizenship based on her birth in New York City on 20 February 2014. However, it was possible that an agreement was made only to grant her Swedish citizenship. Furthermore, it was also possible and believed by some, that she was not granted American citizenship due to her mother, Princess Madeleine, residing in the United States at the time of her birth on a diplomatic passport. United States law says that children of diplomats born on US soil are “not subject to jurisdiction of United States law.”
After her birth in 2014, the Swedish Royal Court had said that her citizenship status was yet to be determined. Acting Communications Manager, Annika Sönnerberg explained then that Princess Leonore’s “citizenship is not yet clear.” No confirmation or clarification of her citizenship status ever came from the Court to the press until they responded to our inquiry yesterday.
This makes her the closest American in line to the Swedish throne.
Thailand:
The only monarch to ever be born in the United States, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (or Rama IX) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while his father was studying at Harvard University. His US birth certificate presents his name as Baby Songkla as his parents had to confer with Bhumibol’s uncle on his name.
It is not believed his parents were in the United States on any type of diplomatic visa, so the future monarch was born with American citizenship. The US Constitution’s Title of Nobility Clause does not explicitly ban an American citizen from being royal or a king. It only states that the US government cannot grant any title of nobility. So, the US government would not have required he renounce his American citizenship; however, Thailand does not allow for dual nationality. If someone is born on foreign land to Thai parents, the child can retain their dual citizenship until they are 18. At that point, they must choose – meaning Bhumibol Adulyadej would have renounced his American citizenship at 18 if it was not done so before.
The King had three grandchildren (Khun Ploypailin Mahidol Jensen, Khun Sirikitiya Mai Jensen, and the late Khun Bhumi Jensen) who were born in the US through his daughter, Princess Ubolratana’s marriage to American Peter Jensen. However, their three children do not hold royal titles. Additionally, the Princess gave up her style of Royal Highness as a result of her marriage.
Note on Great Britain:
Some might mention that a member of the British Royal Family was already born as a US citizen. Lord and Lady Frederick Windsor’s daughter, Maud was born in Los Angeles, California, in 2013 where the family was living at the time due to Sophie Winkleman’s (the name she goes by on-screen) career as an actress. Lord Frederick Windsor is the son of The Queen’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent. However, Maud does not hold a royal title.
