King Charles will be busy on the third anniversary of his coronation as he's expected to be at the first Garden Party of 2026, but behind the scenes of this joyful occasion there is sadness. It's also Prince Archie's 7th birthday on 6th May and royal expert Duncan Larcombe believes that the King "regrets" how things have gone with the Sussexes.

"I think King Charles is full of regrets over the whole situation, he definitely wouldn't have wanted it to go this way," he claimed to The Mirror, reflecting that the monarch has "spoken about how much he enjoys being a grandparent".

King Charles last saw his grandson in person back in 2022 during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend. This was also the first time that he got to meet Princess Lilibet and reports have widely described the reunion as incredibly special for him.

"The [King and Queen] were absolutely thrilled to see them. He hadn't met Lili, his granddaughter, and so to meet her was very emotional, a very, very wonderful thing," a source alleged at the time, adding that it was "very special" to see Archie again too.

Neither of Prince Harry and Meghan's children have been to the UK since then and King Charles's "regrets" could be on his mind as Archie celebrates his big day an ocean away. Milestones in the lives of his grandchildren will likely mean a lot to him and the King had an exceptionally close bond with his own grandmother, the Queen Mother.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has called their relationship "magical" and previously expressed her belief that he's trying to "replicate" this experience. In her view, Charles is "quite a soppy old thing" and "hugely values the time he has" to spend with his grandkids.

His closeness with his Wales grandchildren is clear every time they appear together, as we saw when he playfully greeted Prince Louis at the Easter Sunday service. Having such a special relationship with George, Charlotte and Louis might also remind the King even more of what he's missing out on with Archie and Lilibet.

It's such a sad situation and one that's always attracting speculation, especially after Prince Harry openly declared he'd love a "reconciliation" with his wider family. As the Sussexes aren't working royals, we won't see the Royal Family officially wishing Archie happy birthday on social media, though the Duchess of Sussex is likely to share a new photo on her Instagram.

King Charles will no doubt have sent a present to California, though, and royal expert and author Tom Quinn previously claimed to The Mirror that the King "wants to be an indulgent grandparent".

"Archie loves the idea that his grandad lives in a castle," he went on to explain, adding, "King Charles hasn't seen his grandson Archie since 2022 and Archie really misses him - many of Archie's books are about kings, princesses and castles and he knows enough to know that his grandfather lives in a castle."

In reality, King Charles lives at Clarence House in London most of the time - his own grandmother's old residence. Though he is expected to be at nearby Buckingham Palace, an altogether grander home, for the Garden Party as Prince Archie celebrates in the US.

Prince Harry and Meghan's children Archie and Lilibet only took on their Prince and Princess titles in 2022 and now it's been suggested that they might not have them forever. Prince William has a different way of doing things to his father and Woman's Royal Editor Emily Andrews believes he'll take steps to remove his nephew and niece's honours when he's King.

Writing in the latest issue, she said, "To me, it's obvious that King William will, at the very least, strip Archie and Lili of their prince/princess titles."

Although this would be a shocking move, we know it's something the monarch can - and will - do if they believe it's necessary. Last year King Charles set a precedent when he initiated proceedings to strip Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his princely title.

He vehemently denies all allegations of wrongdoing against him, though His Majesty felt that "notwithstanding" this, he had to take the steps he did. Of course, this scandal-marred situation is very different to the prospect of William removing Archie and Lilibet's titles one day.

They became Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet when Charles ascended the throne because they were then the grandchildren of the monarch via a son. Prince Harry and Meghan aren't working royals any longer and their children won't be.

Perhaps this could be a consideration for Prince William, who's said to be very keen on the idea of a slimmed-down monarchy. Emily Andrews claimed that he could potentially go on to strip his brother and sister-in-law's titles too "under the guise" of a more modern Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's outspoken comments about The Firm and their experience of royal life, not to mention public appearances like their recent trip to Australia might not help matters for them or their children. In his biography, Betrayal, Tom Bower also put forward the idea of King William taking these steps.

"William would undoubtedly rail against [Meghan's] disloyalty. He might even strip Archie and Lilibet of their titles," he alleged.

Harry and Meghan have disputed the book's claims, stating via a spokesperson, "Those interested in facts will look elsewhere; those seeking deranged conspiracy and melodrama know exactly where to find [Bower]". Nevertheless, it's interesting that there's yet more speculation regarding Archie and Lili's titles in their uncle's reign.

We can't know for sure, but it's widely thought that Prince William hasn't met his niece Lilibet in person yet. The only time she's been to the UK was in 2022 and it's been claimed that the Waleses and the Sussexes didn't meet privately during the visit.

Prince Harry has been open about wanting a "reconciliation" with his family, though his older brother hasn't reunited with him publicly for two years.

Prince William has been focused on his royal role and his family. Prince George, Charlotte and Louis follow him in the royal line of succession and if they are the future of the streamlined monarchy, perhaps their cousins' titles won't be seen as necessary in the future.

Prince Harry has admitted to feeling a sense of "disconnection" when Meghan was pregnant with their first child, Prince Archie. The Duke of Sussex wasn’t afraid to delve into the most personal feelings and aspects of his life as he spoke at an event focused on fatherhood, hosted by men’s health charity, Movember.

Harry explained there could be a sense of detachment for dads in the early days and confirmed that he "certainly" felt "a disconnection because [his] wife was the one creating life and [he] was there to witness it". The King’s son added that he thinks for many men "you try to think about what service can I provide at this point, because my work here is done to some extent".

These feelings can shift and the "biggest tip" he was given came from his therapist in the UK and it was to "just be aware of how you feel once the baby is born".

Prince Harry and Meghan welcomed Archie in May 2019 and not only were they negotiating life as new parents, but doing so in front of the world’s media and as the parents of a baby in the royal line of succession. The Prince described how every time he came back from work if he was stressed, when he held Archie "he would start crying".

"Fatherhood is the most important and sort of transformational role that a guy can ever, can ever move into," he added, as per Hello!.

Prince Archie is now weeks away from turning seven and his sister Princess Lilibet will be five this June. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have amassed plenty of experience over the years and at the event, Harry revealed that he sees "parenting evolving over time".

"Our kids are our upgrade. Not to say that I upgraded my dad or that my kids upgraded me, but the kids that we bring up in today’s world need to be upgraded," he declared. "There’s no judgment, there’s no blame, there’s no pointing the finger. The reality is that - however you are parenting - that is a personal experience to you, you are going to want to improve on that."

Archie and Lilibet are arguably being raised differently from how the Prince and Princess of Wales’s children are growing up. However, William has expressed a desire to do things a little differently compared to how he and Harry were raised as royals, especially with regards to fellow future King, Prince George.

During his appearance on Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler last year, William shared, "I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do. A world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better."

"That is caveated with, I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices of the past, that Harry and I had to grow up in. And I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation," he said.

Prince Harry and Meghan are currently undertaking a four-day trip to Australia and the Movember event took place at the HQ of the Australian Rules football team, the Western Bulldogs. As a lovely surprise tied into the focus of the event, Harry received customised Bulldogs jerseys for Archie and Lilibet to enjoy when Harry and Meghan get home to California.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have never experienced a royal Christmas at Sandringham House and this sadly doesn’t look likely to change this year. However, whilst they live an ocean away, Prince Harry is determined to give his children a taste of what celebrating in Norfolk with the royals is really like.

Even after he and Meghan moved to California, he's kept one of the Royal Family’s most famous festive traditions going. Unlike the majority of families in the UK and US, Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lili open presents on Christmas Eve like the rest of the royals.

Writing in his memoir, Spare, the Duke of Sussex explained this is a "German tradition that survived the anglicizing of the family surname from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor". It dates back to Queen Victoria's reign in the 19th century.

In Germany and many other European countries including Sweden and Norway, presents are opened on 24th December and this is the main day of celebrations.

Prince Harry went on to describe Christmas Eve in 2020, sharing, "We FaceTimed with several friends, including a few in Britain. We watched Archie running around the tree. And we opened presents. Keeping to the Windsor family tradition."

After growing up exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve, keeping this going for his own children is a lovely way for Harry to feel connected to his family and make new festive memories with Archie and Lili that tie in with his own. For him and Meghan to keep to the "Windsor family tradition" once and then abandon it would be surprising, so they probably still do this now.

Whether or not they open every single one of their Christmas presents before Christmas Day is another matter, though Harry and Meghan also seem to be happy to uphold another royal custom. That Christmas in 2020 the Duke of Sussex received an ornament shaped like his grandmother Queen Elizabeth from Meghan.

"One present was a little Christmas ornament of…the Queen! I roared. What the-? Meg had spotted it in a local store and thought I might like it. I held it to the light. It was Granny’s face to a T," he wrote. "I hung it on an eye-level branch. It made me happy to see her there. It made Meg and me smile."

Sadly for Harry, the Queen ornament didn’t last long, as the then-one-year-old Archie "jostled the stand" when he was playing and it fell to the ground and smashed. These kinds of small, humorous and inexpensive gifts are a staple for the Royal Family at Christmas.

It’s well-known that this is the theme they have with presents and Harry himself was once given a funny "grow your own girlfriend" kit by Princess Catherine before he met Meghan. Other iconic royal gifts include a singing fish, a leather toilet seat and a spoon with "cereal killer" on it.

The Royal Family are also eager to see what they’ve received each Christmas Eve, with Prince Harry revealing the process is a "free-for-all".

"By custom, at the start of the night, each of us located our place, stood before our mound of presents. Then suddenly, everyone began opening at the same time. A free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper," he declared.

Almost as soon as Prince Harry and Meghan swapped the UK for life in Santa Barbara the big question on everyone’s lips was, "Will they ever come back?". So much has changed since then, including the birth of their daughter Princess Lilibet. California has been all the kids have ever really known and yet there are currently whispers about whether this will remain the case.

Speaking to Hello!, music icon Joss Stone has shared details of a conversation she reportedly had with the Duke of Sussex in the UK this month. They've met several times before and talk soon turned to their families at the WellChild Awards.

"It was really sweet to see him after all these years," Joss declared. "He also asked about how we were settling back in and was genuinely interested in our move home. He’s just very warm and down to earth, as always. Maybe Harry will move back too. That would be nice."

Joss and her family previously lived in the US like Prince Harry does and she went on to reveal that he is full of praise for British schools and the sense of "community" they give children.

"He was saying how wonderful the schools are here and how important community is for children," she claimed. "It was nice to share that with him because it’s exactly why we felt drawn to come back - for the kids to grow up surrounded by family, friends, and a strong sense of belonging and most importantly in a safe environment."

Prince Harry attended Ludgrove School followed by Eton College, which has long been rumoured to be a top contender for Prince George’s next school when he finishes at Lambrook in 2026. Joss was "drawn" back home for the sense of community for her children and the Duke of Sussex might understand without necessarily wanting to do the same.

However, it is interesting to hear that he thinks British schools are "wonderful" and who knows whether this - along with the community aspect - could leave him wanting to return to the UK with Archie and Lilibet. If they ever do move back, it would be easier for them to see their cousins Prince George, Charlotte and Louis, as well as their grandfather King Charles.

In May the Duke of Sussex said he would love a "reconciliation" with his family and living in the UK again would also mean he’s no longer an ocean away from plenty of his friends. A relocation would be a major decision and Meghan has previously expressed to The Cut how scrutinised she thinks school pick-ups and drop-offs would be.

The author of the piece, Allison P Davis, wrote, "Earlier in our conversation about her goals for the life she’s creating here, she’d remarked upon how, if Archie were in school in the UK, she’d never be able to do school pickup and drop-off without it being a royal photo call with a press pen of 40 people snapping pictures."

Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet would naturally attract a lot of media attention at a UK school. However, Prince George, Charlotte and Louis are picked up from Lambrook by Kate and William without being photographed every day.

So it seems like, depending on the school, it’s possible to limit things becoming a royal photo call. This will no doubt be comforting to know if Meghan and Prince Harry decide that they want to make the move back across the pond for "wonderful" schools and "community".

Meghan Markle has revealed how she's teaching her and Prince Harry's two young children about their "privilege" as well as the "cost" and "price" of food using an activity that has long been loved by their grandfather King Charles III.

Speaking on the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast, she made some rare comments about Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who sit sixth and seventh in the royal line of succession, and revealed that she's been getting them out in the garden to not only grow but also sell their veggies.

She hopes, she said, that this will teach them that there is a "value on things" so they don't take their food, home and "privilege" for granted.

"We grow a lot of veggies. We sometimes do a little farmer's market stand," Meghan said in the interview.

"There's a cost and a price for things, and I think that's key for children to understand, especially children who are very lucky to have a home that has privilege; you need to know that just like manners, and taking care of the things around you, there is a value on things," she added.

But not only is gardening helping Archie and Lilibet to see the value in their food, Meghan revealed that it's "so great" for them to learn skills like "patience" as they wait for their seedlings to grow into something edible.

She explained, "Gardening is really really so great for children because it teaches them patience and teaches them to value and appreciate their food."

And the kids seem to love it, with them taking their vegetable growing duties "very seriously," according to Meghan. In her Netflix show Love, Meghan, she revealed that they both have their own gardening tools so they can really dig into the earth and get their hands dirty.

"Our kids have real sets, they take their gardening very seriously," she shared. "I think it's nice to give kids seeds that they can plant. Things that they can watch grow easily and pick from, like sugar snap peas and basil."

Someone who will surely appreciate Meghan getting her kids out in the garden is their grandfather, King Charles III. The monarch has enjoyed a life-long love of gardening and has always championed the benefits of getting outside, both for mental health and for sustainability at large.

Another benefit of gardening for Meghan is the time is allows her to spend with her children. Elsewhere in the podcast episode, she revealed that she is worried about working while her kids are at "such a key age," so we're sure she relishes her time with them as they plant seeds and pick their produce to sell at the farmer's market.

"I don't want to miss a moment for my children," she said, adding that she tries to schedule in work around their school hours so she can be at home with them as much as possible.

She shared, "I love that I can do drop off and pick up at school and do meetings in between and go to Disneyland for two days, as we just did. And, you know, volunteer to serve hot lunch at school or be the chaperone for the kindergarten field trip."

The Wales and Sussex kids are all quite high up in the royal line of succession, but they live very different lives in so many ways. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have never gone on a royal visit or attended Trooping the Colour and their faces are rarely seen in any photographs or videos shared by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Their cousins also have a high level of privacy at Adelaide Cottage, though they do take part in certain royal events and appear in plenty of official pictures as they are gradually introduced to royal life. However, all six of them are keeping a royal tradition alive and it strikes me as particularly adorable - and meaningful.

Prince George, Charlotte and Louis and Prince Archie and Lilibet all call their fathers "Papa". It seems like such a small thing, however, it’s a sweet connection to the Royal Family, and I might have expected the Sussexes to use "Dad" instead.

After all, they’re living away from the royal bubble in California and Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan often refer to themselves as just "Harry and Meghan" in public. Meghan has even revealed her husband’s nickname "H" in interviews, whilst he is known to call her "Meg".

This all indicates quite a relaxed approach, so "Dad" might be the obvious choice if you had to guess what Archie and Lilibet call Prince Harry. "Papa" sounds a little more formal and the Duchess explained recently that this is the name they use.

During an appearance on Jamie Kern Lima’s podcast in April, she read out a letter written by her children with a little help from the Prince.

"From Archie and Lili via Papa. We love your cooking. We love your pancakes and we love, love, love your hugs. You're the best mummy and we love you," she said, as per the Evening Standard.

So it seems they do call their father "Papa" and Meghan also remarked on how much she loved that they said "mummy, instead of mommy", noting it’s "very British". "Papa" also sounds quite British, especially given that Prince George, Charlotte and Louis use it too.

In the Wales family’s 2025 Father’s Day photos taken by Josh Shinner the caption referred to the Prince of Wales in this way, stating, "Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L".

In the past, they’ve also shared glimpses of Father’s Day cards addressed to him as "Papa", showing this isn’t a recent thing at all. It’s adorable that the cousins have this in common but this takes on even more significance as it’s continuing a long-standing royal custom.

Prince William and Harry call King Charles "Pa", which appears to be a shortening of this and King Charles himself called the late Prince Philip "Papa". Meanwhile, in a letter written to her parents describing their coronation, Queen Elizabeth II is said to have addressed the Queen Mother and King George VI as "Mummy and Papa".

"Dad" might be more common nowadays, but for the royals "Papa" has never gone out of favour and the Wales and Sussex cousins are keeping it alive as a tradition.

Ever since the Duchess of Sussex joined Instagram back in January, we’ve been treated to more personal family pictures than ever before. This includes rare snaps of her and Prince Harry’s children and so I was holding out hope that Prince Archie’s sixth birthday wouldn’t go un-mentioned online this year.

I was proved right and much to my delight, Meghan has now shared the first official birthday photo of the Sussexes's son since 2021. It shows the young Prince standing on a balcony in a pair of cosy, striped pyjamas, gazing out at a beautiful sunset over the sea.

It’s a mesmerising picture of a precious, private moment and the Duchess described Archie as, "Our son. Our sun" in the caption.

The proud mum added, "Thank you for all of the love, prayers, and warm wishes for our sweet boy. He’s six! Where did the time go?"

Duchess Meghan also revealed that the family celebrated Prince Archie’s birthday a little early this year. Perhaps because he is now at school, they chose the weekend before to throw a party and the Duchess thanked everyone who came for "making his birthday so incredibly special".

The six-year-old’s birthday falls just a few days after his cousin Princess Charlotte’s and it’s likely that she was celebrating turning 10 across the pond that same weekend.

She didn’t name who attended the party, but just a few days ago Meghan posted another picture that could possibly have been taken on the day.

This one was black and white and showed Prince Harry walking hand-in-hand with his son in the garden as three-year-old Princess Lilibet sat on his shoulders. Both of these snaps are so heart-warming and I find the birthday photo particularly surprising.

Although Meghan and Harry remain committed to not showing their children’s faces online, this shot of little Archie enjoying this magnificent sea view in his pyjamas is still incredibly personal.

It marks a change in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s approach to sharing some aspects of their family life, which I’ve already noticed on Meghan’s Instagram.

The new birthday snap of Prince Archie is still very different from Princess Charlotte’s tenth birthday picture this month, but it pays tribute to the occasion perfectly, in a way that works for the Sussex family as private individuals.

The Prince’s birthday falls on the second anniversary of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation. Prince Harry attended the televised ceremony in London back in 2023, before flying back to Los Angeles and this year he will reportedly miss part of Archie’s big day too.

The Duke of Sussex is set to travel to Las Vegas to launch a new Pledge to Invest initiative with The Diana Award, which was established by him and Prince William in their mother’s memory. He will allegedly meet with two young recipients of The Legacy Award and take part in a panel discussion.

Prince Harry’s commitment to this visit could potentially be another reason the family celebrated Archie’s birthday over the weekend. Either way, they will likely have explained everything to Prince Archie and the memory of Princess Diana is very much kept alive in their household.

Speaking in his and Oprah Winfrey’s docuseries, The Me You Can't See, in 2021 Prince Harry revealed that alongside "Mama" and "Papa", one of his son’s first words was "grandma" after his grandmother Diana.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son Prince Archie "loves" that his grandad King Charles III "lives in a castle" and has developed a "growing interest in his royal connections" after learning about "kings and princesses", according to a royal expert. 

So many children grow up reading stories about the kings and queens of far-off lands, delighting in the fantasy of knights on horseback, extravagant castles, and shining tiaras. But for Prince Archie, who at five-years-old is the perfect age for these stories, the plots aren't all that fantastical. 

While his parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals back in 2020 and moved their family to Montecito, LA, the young prince still holds a prominent place as sixth in the royal line of succession. 

One royal expert has now claimed that learning about royalty through books has led Archie to develop some "interest in his royal connections".

Speaking to The Mirror, royal expert and author Tom Quinn shared, "King Charles hasn’t seen his grandson Archie since 2022 and Archie really misses him – many of Archie’s books are about kings, princesses and castles and he knows enough to know that his grandfather lives in a castle."

He added that "Archie loves the idea that his grandad lives in a castle", like the royalty he reads about in fiction and is "apparently desperate to come to the UK with his father" so he can visit both his grandad and the castle he lives in. Though he may be underwhelmed by Clarence House for, as beautiful as it is, it is not exactly the abode of fairytales. 

Still, royal life is something that, the expert believes, Archie is likely to "romanticise" when he grows up. Despite his parents' attempts to pull back the curtain and show how difficult life in the UK was for them both through their Oprah interview and their Netflix series Harry & Meghan, the life of royalty is inherently intriguing - especially with so many historic traditions surrounding the royals like the Changing the Guard.

The interest in royalty is reportedly something Archie's parents are trying 'not to encourage' as they fear a life in the UK as a working royal is something that could one day become Archie's "longed-for fantasy".

The problem reportedly came to a head when, earlier this month, Archie celebrated his fifth birthday with a garden party at the family home. The expert says King Charles wanted to send his grandson an "extravagant present" but Meghan was keen to keep any gifts 'simple' so as not to further entice Archie. 

"Meghan was worried that a magnificent shepherd’s hut or similar extravagant present will only increase Archie’s growing interest in his royal connections," he said. "She doesn’t want Britain to become a longed-for fantasy for her son so she had been pushing Harry to insist that his father gets Archie a simple present."

But the monarch has long been known to spoil his grandchildren, and reportedly had a custom-made playhouse made for Princess Lilibet to mark her second birthday last year. 

Explaining Charles' desire to give "indulgent" gifts, the expert said, "Charles is desperate to show he cares and he wants to be an indulgent grandparent, partly because he has mellowed over the years and wants to make up for what he sees as his neglect of his own sons."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son Prince Archie has just celebrated his fifth birthday and royal experts have revealed that the family likely marked the day with a "party in the Californian sunshine".

It's a gamble to celebrate a spring, or even a summer, birthday with a garden party with the unpredictable English weather always changing. But, for Prince Archie, who sits sixth in the royal line of succession, his May birthday is easily celebrated in the garden of his parents' $14 million Santa Barbara mansion thanks to the sunny LA weather. 

And that's exactly what the Sussexes did to mark his fifth birthday, royal experts believe, with leading experts speculating that the young royal enjoyed a "party in the Californian sunshine" filled with "simple games", "ice cream" and a few famous faces.

"When it comes to her children's birthdays, Meghan is almost obsessed with the idea that they should be quiet, very private affairs, with simple games, a birthday cake and ice cream," royal expert Tom Quinn told The Mirror.

"Archie is a real live-wire who loves rushing around at top speed so there will also be blind man’s bluff and tag among other games. Meghan combines a deep sense of her own global importance in the wider world with a desire to make her children experience what she sees as the more ordinary things in life."

And there were likely some famous faces who made an appearance for the event. "For Archie's birthday, there will be friends from school, Meghan‘s mother Doria Ragland and one or two celebrities – any celebrity neighbour with a child the same age, and that includes actors Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom and their daughter Daisy – will definitely be invited," said Quinn, name-dropping just one of the famous couples who are good friends with the royals. 

Royal expert and former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond gave slightly different insight into the day, using her own experience as a grandmother to speculate as to how the day might have played out. 

"If my experience of being a grandmother to two children of a similar age is anything to go by, the day will begin with the kids squabbling over anything and everything," she told OK! Magazine. 

"I expect his birthday presents will be something to do with whatever his latest fad is. A battery operated car or truck maybe? A junior surf board?

"A party in the Californian sunshine is a great deal easier to organise than a party in our changeable British weather. So I expect they will have some kind of celebration in the garden of their mansion. Or maybe on the beach with some of his friends. I imagine that granny Doria will be on hand to help and join in."

Prince Harry is reportedly “adamant” that he wants Prince Archie and Lilibet to return to the UK this year, though Meghan is apparently “apprehensive” about the idea.

Earlier this month Prince Harry returned to the UK for a fly-in visit to see his father a day after the news of King Charles’s cancer diagnosis was shared by Buckingham Palace. The Duke of Sussex later went on to explain in an interview with Good Morning America that he has plans to come back and visit “as much as possible” this year, with several upcoming trips planned that will take him through or to the UK. Now it’s been suggested that he might be back within a few months  - and that this time he’s “adamant” that he won’t be coming alone. 

Speaking to OK!, a source has alleged that Prince Harry is “very keen” to bring Prince Archie and Lilibet to London in May to mark the Invictus Games’s 10th anniversary. However, Meghan could apparently be a little “apprehensive” about a Sussex family trip. 

“Harry is very keen for his entire family to join him. It’s important for him that they show a united front and focus on building bridges with the rest of the Royal Family,” the source alleged.

They went on to suggest that the Duke of Sussex is currently engaging in “government-level talks” about returning for a service that’s set to be held in honour of ten years of the Invictus Games at St Paul’s Cathedral. The King’s youngest son reportedly views this as the perfect opportunity for Meghan and their children to visit the UK with him.

“The move to bring the Invictus Games back to Britain is seen as an opportunity for Harry and he is very keen to take it,” the source claimed. “He is adamant that he wants Meghan and the children to join him, but I think she may be apprehensive and I think she finds being in the UK very uncomfortable.”

Meghan Markle hasn’t set foot on UK soil since the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were last here in 2022 during the Platinum Jubilee weekend when they also held a 1st birthday party for Lilibet at Frogmore Cottage. Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom and Endgame, previously claimed as per The Mirror that Meghan “never felt at home” in the UK.

He also alleged that the Duchess of Sussex “never wants to set foot again in England” and that she chose not to attend King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation as she didn’t want to “dive back into the soap opera” of the court. Despite her potential concerns about returning with their children to the UK, Meghan has consistently showcased her support for the Invictus Games.

Earlier this month she accompanied Prince Harry to Canada for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler’s One Year To Go event and she also attended the Invictus Games Düsseldorf last year and Invictus Games The Hague the year before.

It’s likely she wouldn’t want to miss an important service honouring the Invictus Games in May and it would certainly be heart-warming if she and Prince Harry brought Prince Archie and Lilibet back to the UK with them.

Even if the children don’t come on this occasion, however, it’s possible they could at other points throughout this year. Whilst in Canada, Prince Harry told ABC correspondent Will Reeve that he already has “other trips planned” and who knows if they could join him for any of these.

"I have my own family, as we all do, so my family and my life in California is as it is.  I’ve got other trips planned that will take me through the UK, or back to the UK, and so I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can,” Prince Harry declared.

Prince Archie and Lilibet’s “unifying” change could mean Lady Louise is now the only one left with a special honour.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet haven’t been glimpsed in public or in new royal photos for quite some time now but it’s been claimed that a major change was made for them in private last year. Ahead of King Charles’s coronation, an update to the royal line of succession page on the Royal Family’s website confirmed that they had started using Prince and Princess titles which they were entitled to as the grandchildren of the reigning monarch. 

Now it’s been reported that ever since the coronation Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have allegedly also been using the surname Sussex instead of Mountbatten-Windsor, which they were given by Prince Harry and Meghan when they were born. 

Following the re-branding of Prince Harry and Meghan’s Archewell website to Sussex.com, a source claimed to The Times that the family have apparently had and used the same surname for many months at this point. 

“The reality behind the new site is very simple - it’s a hub for the work the Sussexes do and it reflects the fact the family have, since the King’s coronation, the same surname for the first time,” they alleged. “That’s a big deal for any family. It represents their unification and it’s a proud moment.”

Prince Archie and Lilibet’s “unifying” change is in-keeping with the naming of their cousins Prince George, Charlotte and Louis. They are understood to have previously used the surname Cambridge and now use Wales in line with Prince William and Kate’s being Prince and Princess of Wales. However, the alleged change also means that Lady Louise Windsor is now the only one using the Mountatten-Windsor name.

As revealed in the royal line of succession, she’s officially Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor. This double-barrelled surname is also shared by her brother James, but as Earl of Wessex a surname isn’t typically used. The incorporation of the name Mountbatten into the Royal Family’s surname was something that was apparently hugely important to the late Prince Philip.

It was the surname of Prince Philip’s grandfather and according to the BBC, Prince Philip wasn’t thrilled when it was initially decided that Queen Elizabeth’s surname Windsor would be the surname of their family members.

“I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his children! I'm nothing but a bloody amoeba!” he supposedly declared.

Eventually in 1960 it was determined that Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth’s descendants who didn’t have a Prince or Princess title or HRH style could use Mountbatten-Windsor as a surname. It likely meant a lot to him that Lady Louise and her brother were given it, however all these years later it seems like she’s the only one who probably has the honour of using this name. She and Prince Philip were incredibly close and her full surname is a lovely nod to him. 

If the report is correct, then it does mean that there is lovely “unification” for the Sussex family with their surname. It’s also been suggested that the move to make Sussex.com is also a way to include both of their children, whilst Archewell was inspired by Prince Archie’s name. 

Prince Archie and Lilibet are said to have recorded a special video singing ‘Happy Birthday' to their grandfather King Charles from across the pond.

On 14th November King Charles celebrated his 75th birthday and although much of the day was dedicated to work he also marked the occasion with his family. That evening the likes of the Prince and Princess of Wales and Princess Beatrice attended a birthday dinner at Clarence House. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex weren’t there, though it’s claimed that King Charles had a phone call from Prince Harry and also spoke with Meghan.

They also reportedly weren’t the only Sussex family members to wish him a happy birthday from their Santa Barbara home. According to The Telegraph, Prince Archie and Lilibet recorded a sweet video for their paternal grandfather. 

The publication claimed that the two young royals are understood to have been singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to King Charles in the video, adding that this would no doubt have “delighted” him. 

Since Princess Lilibet was born in June 2021, it’s believed that King Charles has only met her once in person. This was when Prince Harry and Meghan returned to the UK for the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. They celebrated their daughter’s 1st birthday at Frogmore Cottage during their time there and photographer Misan Harriman took photos to celebrate the occasion.

That was the last time Prince Archie has been to the UK too and if he and his sister did record a musical message for King Charles, he likely very much appreciated this special gesture, perhaps all the more since he hasn’t seen them for such a long time.

All of his grandchildren are incredibly important to him and he’s cited them as an inspiration for him doing all that he can to try and encourage action to combat climate change and environmental protection. 

It’s also been suggested on the Channel 5 documentary, The Fab Five: The King’s Grandchildren, by Professor Chandrika Kaul that he’s eager to encourage them to not be afraid of their emotions and to be “fulfilled”.

As per the MailOnline, she declared, “What I think he wants to do is try and help these young grandchildren grow up in as normal a way as possible and create more fully rounded human beings who are unafraid of their emotions and who are able to have the confidence to marry whom they want. And to have a happy, successful and fulfilled personal life.”

Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who stepped back as working royals in 2020, are raising Prince Archie and Lilibet outside of the royal spotlight in California. Unlike many of Queen Elizabeth’s great-grandchildren including their Wales cousins, they’ve never appeared at royal events like Trooping the Colour or at the annual royal Christmas celebrations at Sandringham.

However, the recent phone call between King Charles and Prince Harry for his birthday is alleged to have marked a “turning point” for the father and son after rumours of a “rift” that have persisted for years.

If this is the case, then who knows if the Sussexes could all reunite with the wider Royal Family at some point in the not-too-distant future. Either way, if Prince Archie and Lilibet recorded a message for King Charles for his birthday, this is a lovely gesture and will have no doubt meant a huge amount to him ahead of whenever their next in-person reunion might take place.

Prince Harry has missed out on sharing a precious moment with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet for the second year in a row.

• The Duke of Sussex isn’t set to spend any of his actual 39th birthday with Prince Archie and Prince Lilibet again this year.
• Instead, he’s remaining in Germany for the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games 2023.
• This royal news comes as Crown Princess Mary’s gothic floral dress and dramatic over-shoulder train was a fabulous occasion wear look we’re fully behind! 

The Duke of Sussex left his and Meghan’s Santa Barbara home last week for what’s been a busy time for the King’s son. After a brief visit to the UK to attend the WellChild Awards he travelled to Germany for the Invictus Games 2023 where he was joined a few days later by the Duchess. In Meghan’s “off the cuff” speech at an Invictus Games event she referenced the couple’s two adorable children, Prince Archie and Lilibet, who are understood to have remained in the US.

Now, very sadly, Prince Harry has missed out on a precious moment with his son and daughter for the second year in a row. On 15th September Prince Harry turned 39 and whilst Meghan has been by his side on his special day, their two children won’t get to be part of the celebrations - at least not on the actual date. 

Whilst some fans might have wondered if Prince Harry could spend some of his birthday with his children, it seems this isn’t on the cards. According to the Invictus Games website, Prince Harry is set to give a closing speech and show a preview of the upcoming Invictus Games at the closing ceremony.  Since it starts at 8pm on 16th September, it seems like he won’t be in LA on his birthday to see Prince Archie and Lilibet. 

This means 2023 will be the second year in a row that Prince Harry has missed out on spending his birthday with his kids. Last year he turned 38 during the official mourning period for Queen Elizabeth and four days before her funeral, which his young children didn’t attend.

With his milestone 40th birthday coming up next year, perhaps Prince Harry will be eager to make sure he gets to celebrate with his children again then. And given he founded the Invictus Games and how passionate he is about them, it’s perhaps no surprise that Prince Harry will be staying until after the closing ceremony this year.

He and Meghan also reportedly enjoyed an evening of German food with several members of their team at a local establishment the day before his birthday. Prince Harry might also have a belated Sussex family birthday celebration with Prince Archie and Lilibet when he and Meghan return home.

The inaugural Invictus Games took place in 2014 in London and at the time Prince Harry expressed his pride to be able to hold such an international sporting event for Service personnel. 

"I have witnessed first-hand how the power of sport can positively impact the lives of wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women in their journey of recovery,” Prince Harry declared. "I am extremely proud that we are bringing an event like this to the UK for the first time and believe it can have a long lasting impact on the well-being of those who have served their nations so bravely."

A new video from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has been released on their charitable website, Archewell.

• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently released a new video on their Archewell charitable website.
• In the video, the royal couple called the winners of The Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund to congratulate them on their award.
• In other royal news, Why Prince William and Kate Middleton’s summer decision could see them return to little-known royal residence.

On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex celebrated the innovators and campaigners who had been awarded a total of $2 million to support their efforts to 'build a more inclusive, equitable, and accountable online world'.

As the Archewell Foundation is a founding member of this initiative and serves on the advisory committee, the royal couple decided to personally call some of the 26 winners and talk with them about the initiatives and how important their work is.

The video of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan calling some of the winners was posted on Archewell and explained how the work of these innovators is going to shape online platforms in the future and reduce cyberbullying.

In the new video from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the royal couple opened up about the future they envision for their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The couple revealed that they hope their children will reap the benefits of the innovator's work and be able to grow up in an environment where cyberbullying has been stamped out. 

While speaking to a winner on the phone, Prince Harry said, "Thank you for doing everything that you do, our kids especially are incredibly grateful."

Of course, their children are only four and two, so it's unlikely they really have any idea of having gratitude towards these inventors. For this reason, Meghan laughed and added on her husband's behalf, "They don't know it yet, but they will." Harry corrected himself and repeated, "They will."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex tend to keep their children out of the limelight but have on occasion spoken about their home lives and their children's interests.  

Prince Harry revealed in his autobiography that Princess Lilibet has her very own 'Lili Land' at their California home. In Spare the Prince recalled the moment a Hummingbird flew into the kitchen and referenced the playroom space. He wrote, "[The hummingbird] swooped around our kitchen, and flitted through the sacred airspace we call Lili Land, where we've set the baby's playpen with all her toys and stuffed animals."

Similarly, the parents have given a glimpse into their son's life at their $14 million Santa Barbara mansion and revealed to the public that he has a little chicken coop with real chickens that he feeds and looks after. In their interview with Oprah and in an episode of Ellen, the youngster was shown holding a wicker basket and wearing and tending to his flock. The coop was lovingly named Archie's 'Chick Inn' and was a sweet insight into the young royal's life.

Prince William and Princess Catherine’s parenting choice that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided against. 

• The Prince and Princess of Wales made a naming decision when each of their children were born that wasn’t continued by Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan.
• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children don’t have any link to King Charles in their names, unlike Prince George, Charlotte and Louis.
• This royal news comes as we revealed why Lady Louise Windsor’s summer could be a little more stressful than usual this year. 

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “stepped back” and settled in their Santa Barbara home, their path has deviated more than ever from the one being taken by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. Whilst the Sussexes have launched various projects, including Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, the future King and Queen Consort have announced new ventures and continue to undertake a packed schedule of royal engagements.

Their approach to parenting can also be seen to differ, as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are rarely seen whilst Prince George, Charlotte and Louis are being gently introduced to public life as they grow older. Though Prince William and Princess Catherine’s parenting choice made in the early days when their children were born is something that Prince Harry and Meghan also decided against following.

Whilst not everyone will have noticed it, all three Wales children were given names that in some way connect to King Charles. His Majesty’s full name is Charles Philip Arthur George and several of these names have been chosen for his Wales grandchildren. Prince George’s first name is his grandfather’s final middle name and both could’ve been in tribute to King George VI. Meanwhile, Prince Louis has the middle names Arthur and Charles.

Princess Charlotte’s name is a less direct connection to King Charles, but according to Nameberry, Charlotte is the feminine form of Charles. It is apparently derived from the French, “Charlot”, which reportedly means, “Little Charles”, and Charlotte is a popular name within the Royal Family’s history. 

So Prince William and Princess Catherine’s parenting choice seems to have led them to popular royal names that link each of their children’s names in some way to King Charles. When Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan came to naming Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, they took a slightly different approach.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided against more traditional names for their children and neither Prince Archie or Princess Lilibet have any names that connect to King Charles. Prince Archie’s full name is Archie Harrison, with Harrison very appropriately meaning “Harry’s son”. Archie is considered to mean “bold” or “brave” which adds a lovely significance to their choice.

It was also confirmed by Prince Harry and Meghan that Princess Lilibet Diana was named after Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana. It seems that they preferred to forge their own way with baby names that didn’t necessarily have the centuries of royal tradition behind them that Prince George, Charlotte and Louis’ do.

Prince William and Princess Catherine’s parenting choice of more traditional royal names like Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth did means that there is a lot of crossover between King Charles’ full name and his Wales grandchildren. Whether the naming tributes were deliberate as well remains to be seen but it adds another lovely layer of meaning for Prince George, Charlotte and Louis.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are thought to have 'hoped' that the Royal Family would have announced their children's Prince and Princess titles before they did.

• Harry and Meghan announced Archie and Lilibet's new titles after the christening of one-year-old Lilibet.
• But a royal expert has now claimed the Sussexes were hoping that Buckingham Palace would have 'jumped the gun' and announced the news first.
• In other royal news, this is why King Charles won't face the Royal Family during his Coronation service.

When the Queen passed away in September 2022 and Charles became King, Harry and Meghan's children, Archie and Lilibet, automatically became entitled to use "Prince" and "Princess" titles due to being grandchildren of the monarch.

It was unsure whether Harry and Meghan chose to uphold these titles, but it has since been confirmed following Lilibet's christening that they will be using their royal titles.

Following a statement that called their daughter "Princess Lilibet Diana," Harry and Meghan later said, "The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became Monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace."

Shortly after this statement, the Palace changed the children's titles to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in the royal line of succession.

But now, reports are suggesting that King Charles felt "blindsided" by the Sussexes' decision to suddenly use the Prince and Princess titles.

A royal expert, Ingrid Seward, told The Mirror that the announcement didn't go how Harry and Meghan had hoped. She says the couple hoped the Palace would announce Archie and Lilibet's titles first. But instead, the Palace issued a statement to announce that Prince Edward had become the Duke of Edinburgh and his wife Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Ingrid said, "The contrast between the way in which Harry and Meghan released the news of their children's royal titles and the way King Charles announced his brother's ennoblement was stark.

"King Charles issued a formal statement from Buckingham Palace to say he was ‘pleased’ to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar."

The royal commentator added, "It was such a grand announcement it felt as if it were in a gilded frame pinned to the Buckingham Palace railings."

"Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, asked their spokesperson to announce when their 21-month-old daughter Lilibet was christened in Los Angeles last week she would be baptized using the royal style princess. Archie in turn would use the style, Prince."

"How interesting they waited six months to do this. They were hoping the Palace would jump the gun and announce it before they did. No such luck."

She concluded that Buckingham Palace had "left their website intact" and "allowed the Sussexes to make the move themselves" so they "couldn’t complain."

This comes after it was revealed that Archie and Lilibet 'have not been invited' to the King's Coronation Ceremony in May.

Lady Louise Windsor has been denied title change as she remains the only one of the Queen’s grandchildren or great-grandchildren to officially have an important name. 

• Lady Louise Windsor has become the only one of her immediate family not to have a title change as her parents become Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and her brother James is now known as Earl of Wessex. 
• She now remains the only one of the Queen’s great-grandchildren and grandchildren to have the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. 
• This royal news comes as the Queen's royal blunder was revealed as she once forgot Prince Edward's birthday but was saved by royal aides. 

The build up to King Charles’ coronation has seen a number of major title changes take place, starting with the confirmation that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children are now as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Just a day later King Charles has bestowed significant titles upon Prince Edward and Sophie who are now Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Their son James is now to be known as Earl of Wessex. However, there’s one member of the Edinburgh family who’s title remains as it was as Lady Louise Windsor has been denied a title change. 

The Duke and Duchess’ daughter remains listed on the royal line of succession section of the Royal Family website as The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor. This was the full name given to her at birth, though she’s typically referred to simply as Lady Louise Windsor.  

However, she now remains the only one of the late Queen’s descendants who has Mountbatten-Windsor officially listed as part of their name.  

Until the confirmation regarding Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s new titles, they had the surname Mountbatten-Windsor too. The name Mountbatten comes from Prince Philip’s family and Windsor from the Queen’s. Previously it had reportedly been suggested that only the Queen’s family name of Windsor would be used if a surname was required.

Now referred to as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, their former surname will likely no longer be needed. Whilst all other of the Queen’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren either have different surnames or Prince or Princess titles meaning one isn’t required.  

Even Lady Louise’s brother James might not need to use Mountbatten-Windsor as a surname any longer. He’s now using the Earl of Wessex title which is understood to be a courtesy title that he’ll apparently one day inherit alongside the Earldom of Forfar when the Duke of Edinburgh title reverts back to the crown, as per Sky News. Lady Louise Windsor will seemingly remain styled as the daughter of an Earl which was a choice announced when Prince Edward and Sophie married. 

When Queen Elizabeth reigned, as the granddaughter of the monarch, Lady Louise Windsor was technically a Princess but didn’t use the title.  

As she is the King’s niece, it’s not known whether at some point he could decide to bestow a new title upon her. However, her official name of Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor is also hugely significant. 

According to the BBC, when it was initially decided for their descendants to be known only by the Windsor surname Prince Philip allegedly declared, “I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his children!"

So it seems Mountbatten-Windsor was incredibly important to him and given how close he and Lady Louise were understood to be, it’s perhaps especially meaningful that she officially still has this surname. 

Fans' wishes have been granted as King Charles has bestowed significant titles on fellow royals following the recent Archie and Lilibet announcement. 

• King Charles has announced that Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex are now the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 
• This comes a day after Archie and Lilibet were confirmed as Prince and Princess and follows fans expressing their desire to see the Wessexes become the Edinburghs.
• This royal news comes as Meghan Markle's thoughts on a style trademark loved by the Queen revealed in an unearthed interview. 

Following reports of Lilibet Diana’s christening in the US it has now been confirmed that she and her brother Archie are now Princess and Prince. This came after months of speculation about whether or not King Charles would grant Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children the use of a Prince and Princess title. As the grandchildren of the monarch they have been entitled to these titles since September 2022, though it’s only just been updated in the royal line of succession. 

The decision sparked quite the reaction, with many people expressing their desire to see other prominent royals granted new titles too. Now fans' wishes have been granted as King Charles has bestowed significant titles on Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex on his brother’s 59th birthday.

After months of speculation about whether they’d receive these prestigious titles, it was confirmed on March 10 in a special Royal Family Twitter post that he’s become Duke of Edinburgh, making Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh. 

“Wishing the new Duke of Edinburgh a very Happy Birthday today! The King has conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon his brother, Prince Edward, on his 59th birthday,” the caption declared alongside a sweet snap of the King’s youngest brother beaming. 

The title will be held by Prince Edward for his lifetime and he is only the fifth royal to ever hold it. Sharing more detail on the Royal Family website, it was revealed that the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are “proud to continue Prince Philip’s legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential”. 

This major announcement comes not only a day after Prince Harry and Meghan’s children were confirmed as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, but after fans flooded the Royal Family’s social media with requests for this very thing. Taking to the comments section on March 9, plenty of fans expressed their desire to see the Wessexes become Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 

“What happened to Edward, Duke of Edinburgh? And Duchess Sophie!!” one person commented amid a flurry of other responses to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s title change. 

Whilst another replied, “All we want about the title changes is Earl and Countess of Wessex title change to become Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.”

“Prince Edward has to become the Duke of Edinburgh,” someone else wrote resolutely.

Although some reports had previously claimed that the title could be bestowed upon Princess Charlotte in her own right, as per Edinburgh Live, Buckingham Palace confirmed when Prince Edward and Sophie married that they would be Duke and Duchess one day.

“The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown,” the palace reportedly stated. 

Now this has finally come to pass and it’s many fans will no doubt be delighted to hear of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s new titles.

Buckingham Palace has updated its website to reflect the new titles of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's two children, Archie and Lilibet. 

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's two children are now officially Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. 
• A Sussex spokesperson has said that the regal titles are Archie and Lilibet's 'birthright' and that the King has known about the matter for some time.  
• In other royal news, we just happened upon this photo of King Charles putting Prince Harry on a dog and we have so many questions.
  

Buckingham Palace has changed its website to reflect the new titles of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children. 

On the Royal Family's 'Line of Succession' page, the two children of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now referred to as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. They are the sixth and seventh in line to the throne, respectively, after Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and of course, their father Harry. 

The update comes shortly after it was confirmed that Lilibet, who is 21 months old, was christened in a small ceremony in Los Angeles last week. It's understood that King Charles III and Queen Camilla, as well as Prince William and Kate Middleton, were invited to the service, but did not attend. 

On Thursday, a spokesman for Harry and Meghan said in a statement: "The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace." The change follows the news that Archie and Lilibet will miss out on this royal privilege despite their new titles as prince and princess. 

Prior to this, Harry and Meghan's two children had gone by Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. The decision of whether or not to give their firstborn a royal title had always been in the hands of the Palace, according to the Sussexes. 

"They were saying they didn’t want him [Archie] to be a prince or princess, which would be different from protocol, and that he wasn’t going to receive security," the duchess said in the couple's bombshell CBS interview with Oprah in March 2021. 

"This went on for the last few months of our pregnancy, where I was going, ‘Hold on for a second.’ They said [he’s not going to get security] because he’s not going to be a prince. Okay, well, he needs to be safe so we’re not saying don’t make him a prince or princess, but if you’re saying the title is what’s going to affect that protection, we haven’t created this monster machine around us in terms of clickbait and tabloid fodder. You’ve allowed that to happen, which means our son needs to be safe." 

However, Archie and Lilibet's titles of Prince and Princess apply automatically under the 1917 Letters Patent, which was issued by George V. 

The rule says: "Children of any sovereign of the United Kingdom and the children of the sons of any such sovereign … shall have and at all times hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness with their titular dignity of prince or princess prefixed to their respective Christian names." 

It's been confirmed by the Royal Family that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children, Archie and Lilibet, have been granted Prince and Princess titles - but there's a royal privilege they reportedly still won't have access to. 

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's children are now listed as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet on the official Royal Family website. 
• However, it's thought that the new prince and princess will still be prohibited from using another special royal title, due to their parents' exit from The Firm. 
• In other royal news, the reason Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could still stay at Frogmore Cottage for the coronation amid new occupant reports has been revealed. 

Following the news that Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was christened in a lowkey California ceremony with no royals in attendance, it has been confirmed that she and her older brother Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor have been granted some special new titles. 

Are Archie and Lilibet Prince and Princess?

It appears that Archie and Lili are officially now a prince and a princess, with the Royal Family website listing them as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex in the line of succession. 

The change to the official line of succession page suggests that King Charles III has granted his grandchildren the prestigious titles ahead of his coronation in May, in light of Princess Lilibet's christening and Harry and Meghan's plea for their children to be given their 'birthright' royal titles. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle publicly referred to their daughter as Princess Lilibet for the first time in announcing that she had been christened, with their representative sharing, "I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor."

After King Charles took the throne in September 2022, following the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who are sixth and seventh in line to the throne, remained as 'Master' and 'Miss' on the line of succession. 

However, in a statement, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex declared, "The children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became Monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace."

Despite Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who was named after the late Queen Elizabeth II in a decision that has been hailed 'disrespectful', being given their 'birthright' titles, it's believed there is a royal name privilege that they still won't have access to. 

It's understood that while Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have been granted their new royal names, they will not be permitted to use the HRH title that the likes of their cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are entitled to.

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from their lives as official working royals in 2020, they gave up their right to use their HRH titles. 

Prior to the announcement of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's new titles, royal expert Katie Nicholl explained, "They wouldn't get the HRH anyway because they wouldn't be able to use it. Because Harry and Meghan can't."

Highlighting why the children being granted the honor of being a prince and a princess might hold such importance for Prince Harry and Meghan, Katie told Palace Confidential, "Prince and Princess are going to carry a lot more weight, of course, in America with what they do. And then, there's the security issue attached to it."

Prince William and Prince Harry's children do not share the same surname due to a surprising old royal rule.

• Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have different surnames to their cousins Archie and Lilibet. 
• This is due to a surprising royal rule made by The Queen and Prince Phillip back in 1960. 
• The royal news comes after Sarah Ferguson revealed the best piece of advice the Queen ever gave her.

There is royal rule that means Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis don’t have the same surname as their cousins. 

Followers of the family will know that Prince William and Kate Middletons's children all have the last name 'Wales', taking after their dad's new title, the Prince of Wales. 

This means that at their school, Lambrook, the young royals are known by their full names George Wales, Charlotte Wales and Louis Wales. 

However, the reason Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children - Archie and Lillibet - don’t share the same name dates all the way back to 1960.

The rule was originally decided by the late Queen and Prince Philip, who wanted their own direct descendants to be different from the rest of the Royal Family.

So the Privy Council went on to declare that the Queen’s descendants would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor.

However, the exception to this rule is that anyone with a title of Prince or Princess wouldn’t get that name, but would be named after their titles instead.

This is why the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children aren't called Mountbatten-Windsor, and Prince Harry's kids are.

When Archie was born in May 2019, Buckingham Palace revealed that his full name was Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, while his younger sister Lilibet Diana also uses the same surname.

When the brothers were children themselves, they went by the surname 'Wales' at school and their time in the army due to their dad King Charles’ title at the time.

After William and Harry got married, they were given new titles by the Queen, and used the names Cambridge and Sussex respectively.

Elsewhere in the royal family, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice also use the surname 'York' after their father, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.

King Charles and Prince William could have a major say in Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor’s future relationships. 

• His Majesty and the Prince of Wales might reportedly have a key part to play in the future romantic lives of Prince Harry and Meghan’s children Archie and Lilibet. 
• It’s said that the first six royals in line to the throne have to ask the monarch for permission before they get married.  
• This royal news comes as Queen Camilla exuded elegance in a regal blue tunic dress with go-to accessories and newly preferred neckline at a poignant meeting. 

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “stepped back” as senior royals and relocated to their Santa Barbara mansion their two children Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor have only returned to the UK once. This was understood to have been a magical moment for the royals, with reports of King Charles being thrilled to meet Lilibet for the first time. Though whilst they might not see either His Majesty or their uncle the Prince of Wales very often given they live different sides of the pond, King Charles and Prince William could have a major say in their future romantic relationships when they’re grown up. 

According to Town&Country, the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 means that the first six people in the royal line of succession have to request - and, crucially, receive! - consent from the monarch before marrying. Archie is currently sixth and Lilibet is seventh in line to the throne. So if King Charles is still monarch when his grandson wants to marry Archie would technically need to receive his permission, whilst Lilibet would not.

But this could all change if Prince William is King at the time as she would have risen to sixth in line and would have to ask her uncle for permission. Either way, both King Charles and Prince William could have a major influence on Archie and Lilibet’s futures. 

In line with this royal rule, at least one of them will also get to have a say if Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis want to marry someday too. This requirement to ask for permission before proposing and planning a royal wedding is something that might come as a shock to many fans - and it was apparently just as surprising to Archie and Lilibet’s dad Prince Harry. 

In Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, he reflected upon the moment he had to ask the late Queen for permission to marry Meghan and the Queen’s cheeky response. 

"I've been told that I have to ask your permission before I can propose," he apparently said at the time, with the Queen supposedly replying, "You have to?"

Her grandson recounted being surprised by her remark, having been told he needed her permission and apparently wondered if she was joking or if she’d even agreed. He was reportedly later told by the Queen, "Well then, I suppose I have to say yes."

Prince Harry also expressed his belief in Spare that it “didn’t make any sense” to have to ask, though as sixth in line to the throne as he was then, it does follow the rule. 

And whilst the Duke of Sussex might consider it slightly unusual to have to ask his grandmother’s permission before he popped the question to Meghan, their children will likely have to go through the same experience with their grandfather or uncle one day in the future. 

 Meghan Markle's 'broken promise' to the Queen that she made when she joined the royal family has been revealed by a royal expert.

• Meghan Markle is said to have let the Queen down by breaking a promise she made to her when she first joined the royal family. 
• Biographer Gyles Brandreth claims that Meghan was 'enthusiastic' about her commitment to the Commonwealth and her duty in The Firm, leaving the Queen 'delighted'. 
• In other royal news, the Queen's rebellious decision when Princess Anne was born has been revealed. 

According to royal expert and author of Elizabeth: An intimate Portrait, Gyles Brandreth, Meghan Markle expressed her enthusiasm to honor the Queen with her royal duties when she first married Prince Harry.

 The author claims that the Queen made it clear to Meghan that she would be able to continue her career as an actress despite marrying into the institution, with the Duchess of Sussex responding with a promise to focus on her royal efforts. 

In the book, Gyles writes, "She did everything she could to make her future granddaughter-in-law feel welcome. 

"She was concerned for her future happiness. At their first meeting, the Queen said to Meghan: 'You can carry on being an actress if you like – that’s your profession, after all'."

The book goes on to explain, "But Meghan was ready for royal duty and, of course, the Queen was delighted by that. 

"She was particularly delighted by the enthusiasm Meghan showed for the Commonwealth and the commitment she made to the Queen to do 'whatever you think we should be doing for the Commonwealth'."

Gyles points out that Meghan's initial promise to the Queen was not one she was able to keep, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex abandoning their life as senior members of the royal family in 2020. 

The pair went on to leave the UK, moving across the pond to California where they are now raising their children, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in their Montecito mansion. 

Gyles writes, "She promised the Queen that when it came to the Commonwealth she wouldn’t let Her Majesty down. The Queen liked Meghan and told lots of people so."

Prince Harry has revealed that therapy helped him find his 'value', admitting he thought there was 'only one way to live' before seeking mental health treatment at the age of 28. 

• Prince Harry has spoken candidly about therapy at a conference in San Francisco, revealing that the mental health treatment helped him 'burst' out of his bubble for the first time in 28 years. 
• The Duke of Sussex attended the Masters of Scale summit on Wednesday in the capacity of BetterUp's chief impact officer and participated in a panel discussion about his own experiences of personal transformation. 
• In other royal news, Prince Harry’s ‘optimist’ response to the Queen’s death revealed by Meghan Markle.
  

Prince Harry hailed the benefits of therapy during his latest public appearance, crediting the mental health tool for helping him 'burst' out of his bubble for the first time in 28 years. 

Speaking at a San Francisco conference on Wednesday, the Duke of Sussex didn't hold back when it came to sharing his own experience with mental health treatment. 

"The moment I started doing therapy, it opened my eyes," he revealed during a panel discussion with the CEO of BetterUp, Alexi Robichaux, at the inaugural Masters of Scale Summit. 

The 38-year-old, who was announced as the chief impact officer of the US mental health coaching firm last year, went on to explain that he had been "moving through life thinking there was only one way to live" before seeking professional treatment. 

The insight is far from the first time that the duke has talked openly about his experience with mental health, with Prince Harry exploring ‘unresolved trauma’ alongside Oprah in his 2021 documentary, The Me You Can't See. His wife, Meghan Markle, has also discussed her psychological struggles in the past, revealing that she battled suicidal thoughts when she was pregnant with the couple's son, Archie Mountbatten Windsor, in 2019. 

"Therapy burst that bubble," Harry said at the summit, adding that "coaching" burst his "next bubble." 

"All of a sudden I realized that now I have perspective and a great understanding of my value. I regained confidence that I never thought I had." 

Harry then told the audience, "I have a coach. I wish I had two," according to Financial Times journalist David Lee. 

The duke also reportedly said that he had never heard the words 'therapy' or 'coaching' while serving in the British military or working as a senior royal, despite experiencing ongoing mental health struggles following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. It wasn't until he was 28, and 'close to a complete breakdown', that he decided to seek professional help. 

"I can safely say that losing my mum at the age of 12, and therefore shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years, has had a quite serious effect on not only my personal life but my work as well,” he told Bryony Morgan in an interview for her podcast, Mad World, in 2017. 

"I have probably been very close to a complete breakdown on numerous occasions when all sorts of grief and sort of lies and misconceptions and everything are coming to you from every angle." 

King Charles’ coronation day has been announced by Buckingham Palace and it will be an especially significant moment for Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.  

• Buckingham Palace has confirmed that His Majesty’s coronation will take place in May 2023, a little earlier than had been speculated.  
• King Charles’ coronation day falls on Prince Harry and Meghan’s son Archie’s 4th birthday.   
• This royal news comes as Prince Harry said he and Meghan Markle 'basically have five kids' as he opened up on 'emotional support dogs'. 

After speculation had arisen in recent weeks over when King Charles’ coronation could take place since he ascended to the throne in September, Buckingham Palace have now confirmed the date next year when His Majesty will officially be crowned. As reported by the BBC, King Charles’ coronation day will be Saturday, May 6 2023 and the ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey. Camilla, Queen Consort will be alongside His Majesty at the coronation and will also be crowned in a similar but slightly simpler ceremony. 

King Charles will be anointed as Sovereign and a crown placed upon his head during this historic celebration. The Palace has said that the coronation will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future” whilst also being “rooted in long standing traditions”. 

It is currently not yet known whether an additional bank holiday will be added or moved closer to King Charles’ coronation day as a national UK bank holiday is scheduled for Monday, May 1. Previously it had been rumored that the coronation could be on June 3rd and it was thought that King Charles’ coronation could pay tribute to the Queen, as that was when she was crowned in 1953. 

But whilst the confirmed date for King Charles’ coronation day might not mirror that of his late mother, it falls on his grandson Archie Mountbatten-Windsor’s birthday. 

Archie will turn 4 on the day his grandfather is crowned at Westminster Abbey. The young royal  has only visited the UK once since his parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “stepped back” as senior royals and settled in the US.

This was for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 - a weekend of celebrations that also coincided with Archie’s sister Lilibet’s milestone 1st birthday. The Sussex family live in their beautiful Santa Barbara mansion and it’s not yet been confirmed whether they might make the trip over to attend the coronation. 

With Archie just four-years-old and Lilibet then not yet two by May 6, it might be that the Mountbatten-Windsor children are considered too young to attend the ceremony. Though given the significance of the day Prince Harry and Meghan could always opt to fly over as a family and attend themselves, potentially deciding to celebrate Archie’s birthday with an event close to or later on that day. 

Whatever their decision about May 6 next day, King Charles’ coronation day will be a huge one for Archie as not only his birthday but the day his grandfather is crowned in the first UK coronation to be held for almost 70 years. King Charles was himself 4 years old when Queen Elizabeth was crowned and he became the first royal child to see his mother’s coronation as Sovereign.  

Queen Elizabeth II made a surprising decision about the Royal Family's response to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah, according to a royal insider. 

• Queen Elizabeth II delayed the release of a statement about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Oprah Winfrey to avoid a 'precipitate' response, a royal writer has claimed. 
• The late monarch reportedly wanted to 'sleep' on the response to the Sussex couple's accusations of racism against the Royal Family.  
• In other royal news, King Charles to scrap age-old royal tradition at coronation to appeal to 'modern audience'.
  

Queen Elizabeth II delayed the release of the Royal Family's official statement on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey last year so that she could "sleep on it", according to a royal insider. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex hit headlines in March 2021 with their appearance on the CBS special, in which they shared multiple shocking revelations about their experience as senior members of the British monarchy.

Perhaps one of the most notable charges made by the A-list couple against the Royal Family in the 90-minute program was the accusations of racism against Buckingham Palace. Harry and Meghan stunned both Oprah and audiences with their allegations that an unnamed member of the Firm had raised 'concerns' about 'how dark' the skin color of their first child, Archie Mountbatten Windsor, would be when he was born. 

The interview posed a "massive challenge" for the PR team at Buckingham Palace, Valentine Low has now revealed in his new book, Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown.

"The courtiers faced another massive challenge: how to deal with the Oprah interview. There had been so many allegations made by the couple – about racism, about security, about Meghan's mental health – that it was hard to know where to start," the Sunday Times correspondent writes. 

"The private secretaries and communications secretaries had long debates about how to deal with the issue, especially what one of them awkwardly called 'the R word'. That had come up because of remarks that a member of the royal family supposedly made about the color of Harry and Meghan’s future baby’s skin." 

The Royal Family's courtiers had an official statement responding to the Sussexes' claims ready by 2 pm the day after the interview had aired in the US but had to wait several more hours to release it. 

"The Palace stayed completely silent because the Queen decided that she wanted to sleep on it," Low writes. "She was not going to be rushed into saying anything precipitate. It was a reminder that, while the courtiers might do all the groundwork, the final decisions are made by the royal family." 

Buckingham Palace finally issued its statement on March 9, two days after it had premiered to US audiences. 

"The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan," the short message read. 

"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately." 

The Royal Family has sparked confusion after sharing a sweet birthday message for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. 

• The Royal Family has left fans confused with their birthday tribute to Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, after posting a sweet family photo on their social media pages.
• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's firstborn child turns 3 today in California, where he has lived since emigrating from the UK in early 2020. 
• In other royal news, how Meghan Markle’s grave misunderstanding of Princess Diana’s past left her with an ‘anathema’ for royal work.
  

The Royal Family's birthday tribute to Archie Mountbatten-Windsor has caused unintended confusion online, after fans spotted a mysterious detail in one of its two posts. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first child is celebrating his third year on Earth today at the couple's $14m Santa Barbara mansion in California, where he will likely enjoy a private party with his celebrity parents and younger sister, Lilibet Diana. 

The Queen sent Archie her birthday wishes on Twitter this morning, shortly before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared their own special message for the royal toddler. Her Majesty, Prince William, and Kate Middleton have not seen the three-year-old in person since Meghan and Harry's emigration to the US in early 2020, and with tensions reportedly still high between the fraternal dukes, they could be waiting a while for a reunion. 

A photo of Archie as a baby was posted on the Royal Family's official Twitter account on Friday, alongside the caption, "Wishing Archie Mountbatten-Windsor a very happy 3rd Birthday!" 

In the wholesome snap, the Queen can be seen fawning over her eighth great-grandchild, while Meghan cradles him fondly in her arms. Prince Philip, who died aged 99 in April, can be seen smiling behind his wife. Prince Harry and Doria Ragland, the Duchess' mother, look proudly on. 

It was the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's birthday tribute, however, that had royal fans scratching their heads. 

The couple posted a family photo taken shortly after Archie's baptism at Windsor Castle in July 2019, in which Meghan and Harry are pictured posing with their newborn son in the historic building's Green Drawing Room. 

Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, and Doria Ragland are positioned to the left of the Sussex couple, while Prince William and Kate Middleton can be seen to the right. 

The star-studded lineup is somewhat compromised, however, by the presence of two lesser-known—but still very important—individuals in the background. 

Behind the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, the sisters of the late Princess Diana. The two aristocratic women have lived relatively private lives since the tragic death of their beloved sibling in 1997 but occasionally attend royal events in support of their nephews, William and Harry. 

"Harry has always kept in close touch with the Spencers and they have all received invitations," a source told Vanity Fair. "Harry gets on well with his aunts and uncle [Charles Spencer] and they have met Meghan."

It didn't take long for royal fans to ask questions about the identities of the mysterious duo, who have not appeared at a public event since Princess Diana's state unveiling last July. 

"Who are the 3 ladies at the back, assuming one is Megan’s mum?" one confused person asked on Twitter. 

Some also speculated that Jane and Sarah are also Archie's godmothers, but this rumor has never been confirmed by the Royal Family. 

The baby name dilemma faced by Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle when it came to naming their royal children.

• It has been revealed that Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton had the same struggles when it came to naming their children.
• Both of the royal mothers have opened up about this common problem they both faced.
• In other royal news, Princess Charlotte's cheeky like Prince William as a throwback photo shows.

When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry has their first child in May 2019, they named their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. However, reportedly deciding what to name Archie was a tricky decision and they actually nearly used his middle name as a first name.

A royal fan revealed that she shared a conversation with the Duchess of Sussex about baby names at the Invictus games. Sherry McBain, a nursing officer in the RAF, and her wife Mandy brought their son Harrison to a children's book reading at the Invictus Games that was attended by the Duchess. 

Sherry told PA, "She was like, 'Harrison, that's Archie's middle name', and Mandy was like, 'Yeah, I know.' They were just having a chat because Harry and Meghan couldn't decide between Archie and Harrison for the first name."

The royal couple ultimately decided to name their son Archie and opted to keep Harrison as a middle name, but this isn't the first time a royal mother has been stumped when naming her firstborn.

Reportedly when Kate Middleton had her first child, Prince George, the Duchess of Cambridge actually had her heart set on another name.

Royal expert, Katie Nicholl told The Mirror, "Courtiers insisted the pair had not found out the sex of their unborn baby, and friends close to the couple claim William wanted a surprise. Although Kate apparently suspected it was a boy and had set her heart on the name Alexander, they had not yet decided what to call their firstborn."

It is unclear why Kate and William decided against the name Alexander and opted for George instead, but like Meghan, Kate decided to still include her second favorite name in her son's title. Prince George's full name is George Alexander Louis, which means that like his cousin Archie, his middle name is the name that he was nearly christened with.

Prince George and Archie may have nearly had their middle names as first names, but they wouldn't have been the first members of the Royal Family to have an interesting relationship with their Christian names.

Meghan Markle's real name is actually Rachel, but the former actress began using her middle name Meghan when she began her acting career. Similarly, her husband Prince Harry is actually called Henry, but he goes by the nickname used by his family. 

The late Duke of Edinburgh was commonly referred to as Prince Philip but he was actually born Philippos Andreou which translates to Philip Andrew. The Prince decided to adopt the English version of his name and used the Mountbatten surname when he married the Queen and became the Prince consort.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son, Archie, could attend a non-fee-paying elementary school when he leaves his preschool, according to a royal correspondent. 

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could enroll their son, Archie, in a non-fee-paying school when he's old enough, according to a royal expert. 
• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's oldest child currently attends a progressive preschool in California. 
• In other royal news, Duchess Camilla has 'royal wave down to a tee' as she prepares for Queenhood.
  

Archie Mountbatten-Windsor may be the son of royal millionaires, but that doesn't mean he's guaranteed a prestigious education. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's firstborn child, now two, currently attends a preschool in Montecito, California that focuses on sustainability and social inclusivity —two issues close to the philanthropic couple's hearts.

The co-ed facility, which is reportedly situated near Meghan and Harry's £14 million Santa Barbara mansion, also teaches its pupils 'emotional literacy' and 'mindfulness', as well as artistic subjects such as languages, music, theatre, and dance. 

According to a parent of a child at the preschool, the Sussexes don't expect VIP treatment when mixing with the other moms and dads. 

"Harry often drops Archie off and picks him up, and seems like a good dad," they told the Mirror. "All the parents have been laid-back in welcoming Harry and Meghan, without making a fuss. And to the other kids, Archie is just one of them." 

With not long to go until the royal toddler is old enough for elementary school, speculation is brewing over where Meghan and Harry would like Archie to continue his studies. 

Prince Harry has openly admitted in the past that he didn't enjoy his own school experience at the elite Eton College in Berkshire, and is likely determined to protect his son from the same turmoil. 

According to a former royal correspondent, the couple might even send Archie to a local, non-fee-paying school. 

"The catchment area where they live… is Cold Spring School which seems to be a very, very good public school so I could well see Archie there when he becomes that age," Richard Mineards told the Evening Standard. 

Cold Spring School is a small school in Montecito with a student population of fewer than 200 children and 12 classroom teachers. Like many liberal academic institutions, it has a strong emphasis on creativity, regularly inviting professional artists and musicians to provide lessons to its pupils. Cold Spring also embraces a 'Project Based Learning' philosophy, encouraging students to 'discover answers on their own' rather than be spoonfed knowledge. 

Prince Harry's position in the Royal Family came under scrutiny again this week, following the launch of an online petition calling for the Queen to revoke his royal titles. 

• Prince Harry has been requested to give up his royal titles in a new petition. 
• The petition, which was created by royal expert, Lady Colin Campbell, has already received over 42,000 signatures. 
• In other royal news, Alex Salmond has accused Prince William of having ‘poor judgment’, arguing he should be more like the Queen.
  

Thousands of people have asked Prince Harry to give up his royal titles this week in an online petition. 

The Change.org appeal, created by Lady Colin Campbell, was set up with the goal of receiving 50,000 signatures. 

Its opening statement invites Prince Harry to "voluntarily ask The Queen to put his royal style, titles, and rank into abeyance," a decision which would "free him" of his monarchical "constraints" and "constitutional conflicts." It also claims that the Duke of Sussex will be able to "enjoy the credit of having put both national and international interests above his own, personal ones" by requesting the renouncement of his own accord. 

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, announced they were stepping down as senior royals in January 2020, shortly before emigrating to the US with their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. They were stripped of their royal patronages after emergency meetings called by the Queen, who needed the couple in the UK to fulfill their commitments to their assigned organizations. 

Despite losing these honors, they have continued to use their titles, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which were bestowed to them by Her Majesty following their wedding in 2018. 

The petition has already been signed by over 42,000 people, many of whom have left comments explaining their support of Prince Harry's official resignation from the Royal Family. 

"Such a shame but enough is enough," one disappointed member of the public wrote. "They are becoming shambolic, not content with insulting their family and the UK, they are starting on the USA too. These titles are an honor and privilege, something they have spat in the face of." 

"I am signing the petition because his behavior is unacceptable, plus his slandering of the monarchy publicly," another person posted. 

Who is Lady Colin Campbell? 

Lady Colin Campbell is a British socialite who is best known for her writings on the British monarchy. She has published eight books about the Royal Family, including a bestselling biography on Princess Diana and the controversial The Queen Mother: The Untold Story of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, which was widely condemned for its unfounded claims on the late monarch. 

She has also weighed in on more modern royal stories, releasing Meghan and Harry: The Real Story in 2020. In the salacious book, Lady Colin digs into the highly-publicized relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, using sources close to the couple in both the UK and the US to substantiate her narrative. Her account is fiercely critical of Meghan and Harry, accusing them of sabotaging a "tremendous chance to do good as royals." 

Lady Colin Campbell's petition has also inadvertently attracted the attention of British republicans, who wish to see the abolition of its monarchy.  

Others simply took issue with the purpose of the petition, accusing its supporters of 'bullying' Prince Harry. 

Buckingham Palace has not made any comment on the petition.