Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s baby daughter could be first to inherit royal title as law challenged

IF Meghan Markle was to have a daughter, the tot might be able to inherit a special royal title for the first time.

A current legal battle is going on to overturn hereditary laws, which currently bans firstborn daughters from claiming hereditary peerages.

If the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have a son, he would inherit the Dukedom but currently this doesn’t apply to girls – even if they are the firstborn child.

A group of women, known as the Strasbourg Five, are currently challenging the law, so newborn boys and girls will have equal peerage rights.

The news is likely to be close to the heart of Meghan, 36, who declared in a statement released hours after she became a royal: “I am proud to be a woman and a feminist.”

Currently only hereditary peers can stand for election in the House of Lords but if this legal challenge is successful, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could see their daughter speak in the upper house.

The royal laws of succession were changed to become gender-neutral in 2013.

It meant Princess Charlotte became the first female royal to retain her place in the line of succession despite the recent birth of brother Louis.

But priority within the peerage system is still given to male heirs.

Any child born to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be a lord or lady and not a prince or princess.

But this can change if the Queen chooses to step in like she did for Prince William and Kate Middleton's children.

While George was always entitled to be HRH Prince George of Cambridge, younger sister Charlotte initially was not.

This title system was first introduced by Harry's great-great-grandfather King George V who issued a Letters Patent in 1917.

Pressure group Daughters’ Rights has campaigned for a law change after a number of “hard luck” cases highlighted the rules favouring males.

When the 10th Baron Braybrooke died last year with no male heir, none of his eight daughters could inherit the title, or the 6,000-acre Audley Estate in Essex.

It went to a fourth cousin once removed who owed his claim to an ancestor born in 1750.

Meghan’s statement was on the monarchy’s official website, updated to reflect its new member.

Her page highlights her “lifelong commitment” to causes including those promoting women’s empowerment.

Her work with groups such as UN Women are also noted.

Meanwhile, this is why Meghan Markle was not ALLOWED to wear her hat at Wimbledon… and it’s all because she’s now a royal.

It seems the former Suits actress had planned to wear the hat, before she realised the Royal Box rules.

Of course she still looked very glam - although some compared her outfit to a Wimbledon linesman's uniform.

Emma Watson was also at the London tennis tournament on Saturday, here's why people think she's taking style tips from England manager Gareth Southgate.