Prince Harry and Meghan's daughter Lilibet referred to as 'princess' for first time

She became a princess when her grandfather ascended the throne and became King Charles III

Lilibet's official title is expected to be used in formal settings. PA

Prince Harry and Meghan's daughter was christened on Friday by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, a representative for the couple revealed.

The ceremony was held using her title Princess Lilibet Diana, marking the first time she has been publicly referred to as a princess.

The representative said: “I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor.”

Lilibet became a princess when her grandfather ascended the throne and became King Charles III.

It is understood Lilibet's title of princess and the prince title of their son Archie will be used in formal settings, but not in everyday use by the couple.

Reverend Taylor is the Bishop of Los Angeles in the Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion.

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

Doria Ragland, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards in New York City. Getty

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles in April. Getty

The royal couple speak onstage at the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala in New York in December 2022. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan watch as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is placed into the hearse following the state funeral service at Westminster Abbey in central London in September 2022. AP

Prince Harry and Meghan pay their respects at the Palace of Westminster. Getty

Prince Harry, Meghan and Kate, Princess of Wales, attend a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth's coffin at Westminster Hall. AFP

The Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan meet members of the public outside Windsor Castle. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan leave after a service of thanksgiving for the queen. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York in September 2021. AP

Prince Harry and Meghan on the cover of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world edition, in September 2021. Reuters

Prince Harry and Meghan are interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Reuters

Prince Harry and Meghan shared this image on social media in February 2021 to announce they were expecting their second child. AFP

Prince Harry and Meghan visit Canada House, London, in January 2020. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan visit Auwal Mosque on Heritage Day during their royal tour of South Africa in September 2019. Getty

Prince Harry, Meghan and their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in South Africa in September 2019. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan meet Beyonce Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z at the European Premiere of Disney's The Lion King at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, in July 2019. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan pose for a photo with the New York Yankees before their baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium in June 2019. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan pose with their newborn son Archie in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle in May 2019. Getty

Meghan, joined by her mother Ms Ragland, shows her new son to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in May 2019. AP

Prince Harry and Meghan officially open Number 7, a Feeding Birkenhead citizen’s supermarket and community cafe in Merseyside in January 2019. Getty

Prince William, the Princess of Wales, Meghan and Prince Harry attend a Christmas Day church service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in December 2018. Getty

Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan and the Duchess of Cambridge attend a service marking the centenary of the First World War armistice at Westminster Abbey in November 2018. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan visit Redwoods Tree Walk in October 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan visit an exhibition of Tongan handicrafts at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre in October 2018 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan visit the University of the South Pacific in October 2018 in Suva, Fiji. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan address the public during a Community Event at Victoria Park in October 2018 in Dubbo, Australia. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan meet a koala during a visit to Taronga Zoo in October 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan arrive at the University of Chichester's Engineering and Digital Technology Park during an official visit to West Sussex in October 2018. Getty

The queen, Meghan, Prince Harry, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge watch the RAF 100th anniversary fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 2018. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan on their wedding day in May 2018. Getty

Prince Harry places a wedding ring on his new wife's finger. Getty

Meghan and Prince Harry head to their evening wedding reception at Frogmore House. Getty

Prince Harry and Meghan walk through the corridors of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on their way to a reception for young people at the Palace in February 2018 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty

Prince Harry and his then-fiancee Meghan visit Nottingham for their first official public engagement together in December 2017. Getty

The christening took place privately at the Sussexes' home in California. It is the first time Lilibet, who turns two in June, has been publicly referred to as an official princess.

No British royals are known to have attended but People magazine, which first reported the christening, said there were up to 30 guests.

Buckingham Palace said the royal website “will now be updated in due course” to reflect the titles.

The use of the titles has been revealed a week after the couple were asked to vacate their UK home Frogmore Cottage, a move sanctioned by the king, which further weakens the couple's ties with Prince Harry's home country and the Windsors.

Title rules set out by King George V in 1917 mean Archie and Lilibet, as the children of a son of a sovereign, automatically became a prince and a princess when Charles became king.

They are also entitled to an HRH style, and although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex retain their HRH styles, they no longer use them.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex said in the couple's interview with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey that Archie was not given the title of prince because of his race.

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