Prince Harry and Meghan Markleโs life in the US is very different from what they used to in the UK. Not least because they get to raise their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, far away from the spotlight, paparazzi photographers, and all that comes with being a member of the Royal Family. In later days, however, Meghan has decided to share more pictures of her children, but not showing their faces. Now, a new image of Lilibet and Harry has left fans enraged. Are the Duke and Duchess breaking the law?
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have primarily been kept outside of the spotlight their entire lives. Neither Harry nor Meghanโs children have ever made a public appearance with their parents, and sadly, they donโt have any relationship with their Royal Family members.
Archie was only a year old when Harry and Meghan left the UK and royal life, and Lilibet was born in the US. While Archie met his grandfather, King Charles, his uncle Prince William, and his cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, the relationship did not get the attention the children might deserve.
Several royal experts have criticized Harry and Meghan for not allowing their children the opportunity to forge bonds with their UK-based family. Last summer, Meghanโs estranged father, Thomas Markle, lashed out at his daughter and son-in-law, saying they deny their children the right to know their royal relatives.
โThey are getting to the age where they will start to ask questions, as all kids do,โ Markle told New Zealand Womanโs Weekly, as perย The Sun.
โI find myself wondering how Archie and Lilbet will feel in a few yearsโ time when they realise all the things they have missed out on,โ he added.
Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet
Archie and Lilibet will likely live in luxury as they grow up, and eventually, theyโll become fully aware of the sad feud between their parents and the Royal Family. A source close to the Sussexes told Us Weekly that Harry and Meghan will have โthose conversations in due timeโ regarding their kidsโ royal heritage, but for now, traveling to the UK to visit their royal relatives is not an option.
A significant difference between Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet and their cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, is that the three royal children of Prince William and Kate Middleton have lived their lives in the spotlight. Sadly, they have not bonded with their uncle Harry and Meghanโs children. Royal author Phil Dampier told The Sun that itโs a โvery sadโ situation.
Itโs not thought that George Charlotte and Louis have ever met Archie and Lilibet,โ he said, adding that the one time the royal children couldโve spent time with Archie and Lilibet at Windsor, they werenโt there.
โAlthough they were invited to Lilibetโs first birthday party at Frogmore Cottage, they did not go,โ Dampier continued. โIn many ways the children of Zara and Mike Tindall have replaced Archie and Lilibet as the closest cousins of George, Charlotte, and Louis.โ
The royal expert concluded, โItโs something Archie and Lilibet are missing out on and you just wonder if in years to come, when they grow up, they will start asking their parents why they are estranged from the royal family.โ
So why arenโt Prince Harry and Meghan simply traveling to the UK with their children so they can meet their cousins, uncle, and grandfather? The Duke and Duchess are concerned that they wonโt be safe enough as they no longer can enjoy the royal benefit of paid protection.
King Charles โheartbrokenโ over his non-relationship with Archie & Lilibet
In April, Harry is set to appeal a High Court ruling which upheld the decision to remove publicly funded security for him and his family.
โHe wants to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the U.K. so his children can know his home country and so he can help support his patronages and their important work,โ a friend close to Harry and Meghan toldย Us Weeklyย in January.
Another relationship that has suffered a considerable blow is the one between Archie and Lilibet and their grandfather, King Charles. The monarch has not seen his US grandchildren in years, and reports say he is โheartbrokenโ over it.
A source told the Daily Mail, โWhile he is sorry that he does not have a relationship with his grandchildren in America, it is easier for his peace of mind that thereโs an ocean between him and Harry.โ
Whether Archie and Lilibet will have a relationship with their grandfather in the coming years is still to be decided, and much, if not the whole situation, depends on whether Harry and Meghan will get their security or trust that they will be safe. However, if Charles gets to spend time with his grandchildren, they will have one significant interest in common.
On Meghan Markleโs new Netflix lifestyle and cooking showย With Love, Meghan, the Duchess explained that just like Charles, Archie and Lilibet have grown fond of gardening.
Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet & King Charles share the same passion for gardening
She explained that they โtake their gardening very seriously,โ and even have their own gardening tools. Arche and Lilibet love spending time outside, just like their grandfather. Moreover, Meghan Marke revealed that Lilibet has found a passion to be in the kitchen too.
โLili and I actually made this batch together,โ Meghan said as she scooped strawberry jam into cups. โShe picked these with me, she is like, โNo, Mamma, I will stir it,โ but she is proud-that part feels good.โ
King Charles has spoken about his passion for gardening many times. Many years ago, for example, he took the initiative to construct the garden in Highgrove. He still has a big passion for flowers and planting trees.
โBefore you rush into things, see what you like and donโt like and then get stuck in. For me itโs the most marvellous, therapeutic business. You can get reward from it, but you can also be driven mad by it,โ King Charles once said when advising on garden work.
The king is a big advocate for preservation, too.
โWeโre losing so much thatโs really precious. Just one example is the wildflower meadows all over this country. Most of them have disappeared. Dug up, ploughed up, sprayed. At the time, in the 60s and 70s, I hated it to such a degree. It seemed to be going too far,โ he said.
โEventually it all comes round again and everybodyโs running around like headless chickens, trying to save desperately whatโs leftโฆ Suddenly they realise what has been done and the damage thatโs been done. You want to be able to use nature as your assistant, but you want to give back in return for what you take.โ
Prince HArry & Meghan Markle face huge backlash over new Lilibet picture
As mentioned, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been keen on showing too much of their children on social media. They released a picture of their children, without revealing their faces, for their Christmas card, and as Meghan now has a new Netflix show, newly taken pictures of their children have reached the public. On Instagram, Meghan shared a photo of the now three-year-old Lilibet in a boat, sitting in her dadโs lap as he kisses her head.
Lilibet wore a pink shirt and floral leggings, while Harry sported shorts, a t-shirt, sunglasses, and a cap.ยด
โHappy International Womenโs Day! Celebrating the strong women around us & the girls with dreams who will become women with vision. Also thanking those who uplift us every day,โ Meghan wrote.
Although many enjoyed the new picture of the daughter-dad duo, Harry and Meghan now face a considerable backlash. Social media users noticed Lilibet wasnโt wearing a lifejacket and called the Duke and Duchess โirresponsible.โ
โIsnโt it illegal not to have a lifejacket on your child? Very irresponsible,โ one user wrote, as per Sky News.
โMy family has been in the boating industry for four generations. A very big no-no โ things happen in a blink of an eye,โ another added.
A third user stated: โThe self-absorbed, brain-dead parents didnโt put a lifejacket on that child.โ
Could be illegal
Itโs unclear where the photo of Harry and Lilibet was taken or under which circumstances. However, per Sky, California law requires children under the age of 13 to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket when traveling on a moving recreational vessel of any length. The only exception is when they are in an enclosed cabin or wear a harness while on a sailboat. Violators can face a fine of up to $250.
Several other social media users questioned the choice that Lilibet wasnโt wearing a lifejacket and argued that the picture may have been altered.
โAs ever, itโs always weird. The yellow circle shows Harryโs left hand, and the green circle shows another two left hands,โ one person commented.
Although Harry and Meghan received criticism, some defended the couple.
โWhile safety is crucial, itโs also important to recognise that not every moment in a familyโs life will be perfect or picture-perfect. Letโs focus on the overall well-being of children rather than nitpicking isolated incidents,โ one user wrote, while another simply stated, โBunch of Karens.โ
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