Additional Coverage:
- Everything to know about Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s 2 kids (businessinsider.com)
California Dreamin’: A Look at Archie and Lili’s Upbringing
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, may have royal blood, but their upbringing is distinctly different from their British cousins. Residing in California after their parents’ departure from royal duties, Archie and Lilibet enjoy a level of privacy rarely afforded to young royals. Let’s delve into their unique lives:
Prince Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
Born on May 6, 2019, at the Portland Hospital in London, Archie arrived almost a year after Harry and Meghan’s fairytale wedding. Breaking with tradition, the couple opted for a more private introduction, forgoing the immediate post-birth photocall. Instead, they presented Archie to the world at Windsor Castle two days later.
Archie’s name, revealed via Instagram, carries special meaning. “Arche,” meaning “source of action” in Greek, inspired both his first name and the couple’s charitable organization, Archewell. Harrison, meaning “son of Harry,” was a fitting middle name.
Christened in July 2019 at Windsor Castle, Archie’s christening was a family affair, attended by senior royals. He even accompanied his parents on a royal tour of Africa at just four months old, meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu in his first official engagement.
Since relocating to the US, Archie’s life has been largely private. While glimpses of him have appeared in the “Harry & Meghan” Netflix docuseries and Meghan’s Instagram, his parents have shielded him from the public eye, allowing him a normal childhood in Montecito, California.
Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor
The couple announced they were expecting their second child, a daughter, in February 2021. Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born on June 4, 2021, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, making her the first British royal born in the United States.
Her name is a tribute to both her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II (whose family nickname was Lilibet), and her grandmother, Princess Diana. The first public photo of Lilibet arrived with the family’s 2021 Christmas card.
Christened in March 2023 in a private ceremony in the US, Lilibet’s godfather is Tyler Perry, a close friend of the Sussexes. She met her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and grandfather, King Charles, during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Like her brother, Lilibet’s appearances have been limited to family photos and brief moments in the Netflix series.
A Change in Titles
While Archie and Lilibet were initially known as Master Archie and Miss Lilibet, their titles changed following Queen Elizabeth’s death. As grandchildren of the monarch, they automatically became Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, as dictated by royal decree.
This change was officially recognized by Buckingham Palace in March 2023. Despite their royal titles, the children’s relationship with the royal family remains largely private, mirroring their parents’ strained relationship with the institution.