Why Pippa Middleton's Baby Will Not Inherit a Royal Title

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews's future child will be a first cousin to members of the British royal family, including the future King, but he or she won't be inheriting a royal title like the rest of his or her relatives.

"Pippa is Mrs. James Matthews, [so] her kids will be Master or Miss Christian name Matthews," Marlene Koenig, a royal historian and writer of the Royal Musings blog, tells Town and Country. "No titles whatsoever."

Koenig adds that the reason the Matthews boy or girl will not be known as a future prince, princess, lord, or lady is because the child's parents don't have a royal title themselves. Matthews and Middleton only have honorary titles—the Laird and Lady of Glen Affric—due to Matthews's father's land acquisition. In 2008, David Matthews purchased the 10,000-acre Glen Affric estate in the Scottish Highlands.

"[James's] father bought a feudal barony," Koenig explains. "'Laird' is not a title, but a description applied by those living on and around the estate. Ownership of a souvenir plot of land does not bring with it the right to any description such as 'laird,' 'lord,' or 'lady.'"

Duncan Larcombe, a British journalist and author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story, agrees with Koenig. "James is heir to a fair amount of land, but it is nothing like a proper title," he tells Town and Country. "He will become a Laird, but that’s not anything like a Dukedom or a title."

Since Prince William and Kate Middleton are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, all three of their kids, including Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have royal titles.

Leading up to Louis's birth, Koenig told Town and Country that the newborn's official title would be His Royal Highness Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Perhaps the Matthews child will be grateful to not have to write out such a long name on legal documents.

This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR US.