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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's son could become US President

Baby Sussex could be eligible to run for US President. [Photo: Getty]
Baby Sussex could be eligible to run for US President. [Photo: Getty]

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son could make history by being the first member of the British Royal Family to run for US President.

The child, born at 05:26am yesterday morning, is automatically as he was born on British soil.

But, assuming Meghan didn’t give up her American citizenship when she married Harry in May 2018, the child will also be granted American citizenship.

This US citizenship means the newborn royal can run for office one day, should he fancy it.

READ MORE: Palace ‘caught by surprise’ by royal baby arrival

“A child born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may be eligible for U.S. citizenship if the parent(s) meets the requirements for transmitting U.S. citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act,” according to the US Embassy website.

The requirements for Baby Sussex, born in wedlock to one British and one American parent outside of the UK, would be for his American parent (Meghan) to have lived in the US for a least five years – two of those years after the age of 14.

Meghan, who has lived the majority of her life so far in America, fulfils this criteria.

The baby’s birth then has to officially be reported to an American consulate for him to achieve his dual citizenship.

That said, there is one reason Baby Sussex may want to opt out of his American citizenship when he’s older.

Under US tax law, all American citizens have to report their income from all sources within and outside of the US.

As well as being a logistical nightmare, this could see a grown up Baby Sussex paying tax to the US.

How Baby Sussex could run for US President

However, being an American citizen isn’t all it would take for Baby Sussex to run for US President. He has to fulfil certain additional criteria first.

For starters, he has to be over the age of 35 before running.

He also will have to have lived in the US for at least 14 years.

Given Meghan’s political and philanthropic background, as a former UN Ambassador and a one-time global ambassador for World Vision Canada, it is not totally out of the question her and Harry’s child may want to be involved in politics.

However, the Royal Family are traditionally apolitical.

READ MORE: Michelle Obama 'can't wait to meet' Baby Sussex

Is Meghan the first American in the Royal Family?

Meghan is the first American-born person to marry into the Royal Family since socialite Wallis Simpson married the Duke of Windsor in 1937.

While the Duke of Windsor, then King Edward VIII, had to abdicate his throne in order to marry Simpson, as it wasn’t allowed, Prince Harry was supported by the Queen when he married Meghan in 2018.