The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will today celebrate the first birthday of their son Archie while under lockdown in the US, as royal fans hope for a new picture of the couple’s firstborn child.
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor turns one today and fans have taken to Twitter to call for a photo of the youngster on his birthday – as is royal tradition.
The milestone is likely to be marked by just Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, in person.
The couple are in lock-down in their Los Angeles home with California governor Gavin Newsom having issued a ‘stay-at-home’ order in the state.
A royal expert said the couple plan to treat Archie to an ‘organic, sugar-free cake’, a splash around in their pool and a video call with the Cambridge children.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed yesterday how the couple plan to celebrate Archie’s first birthday, telling OK! magazine: ‘The Queen will wish him happy birthday this week via Zoom as will the Cambridge children.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will today celebrate the first birthday of their son Archie while under lockdown in the US
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor turns one today and fans have asked for a photo of the youngster – as is royal tradition
‘They haven’t seen their little cousin in months so they’ve been looking forward to seeing how much he’s grown.’
Meanwhile she also claimed that while the family are busy settling into life in LA, the thought of having a ‘little brother or sister for Archie’ is ‘very much on the agenda’ as the couple are still considering having another child.
The young royal has experienced an eventful 12 months since he was born at London’s Portland Hospital – first living in a cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle, then an exclusive home on Vancouver Island in Canada and now in the sprawling metropolis known as the City of Angels.
America is where they plan to bring up their son after walking away from the royal family in order to become financially independent, after their hopes of earning money while still supporting the Queen were ruled out.
A royal expert said the couple plan to celebrate Archie’s birthday with an ‘organic, sugar-free cake’, a splash around in their pool and a video call with the Cambridge children
Archie was born on May 6, 2019, and a few days after his birth his parents proudly showed him to the world, before the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh saw the infant for the first time
Archie was born on May 6 last year at 5.26am, weighing 7lb 3oz, and a few days after his birth his parents proudly showed him to the world, before the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh saw the infant for the first time.
Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, a yoga instructor and social worker, was pictured at the royal gathering and she has been a constant presence in the Sussexes lives, and lives in Los Angeles where Meghan grew up and went to school.
Fans will be hoping the couple follow royal tradition and release a picture of Archie, who has rarely been seen in public.
One Twitter user, The Regal Watcher, said: ‘Alright, here’s hoping for we get a new photo of sweet little Archie tomorrow in celebration of his first birthday.’
Archie was born on May 6 2019 at 5.26am, weighing 7lb 3oz, and a few days after his birth his parents proudly showed him to the world. Pictured: Prince Harry with young Archie
But some on social media users don’t think the couple will release a photograph today.
One Twitter user said: ‘I think they’ll break the chain of releasing photographs of the royal children on their birthday.
‘They will deliver a thank you message to all their fans for the money raised in support of Archie, either a video message or a posted note on a social media site.’
He received his greatest exposure when the Sussexes took their son on his first royal tour, visiting South Africa last autumn when he was four months old.
The royal baby received a welcome kiss from Archbishop Desmond Tutu when Harry and Meghan introduced him to one of the heroes of the anti-Apartheid movement.
Archie made an impression with the Archbishop’s daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe, who joked the young royal favoured ‘ladies better’ when she caught him glancing in her direction and Meghan declared ‘he likes to flirt’.
Earlier in 2019 Archie was photographed in his mother’s arms while his father took part in a charity polo match.
Meghan and Harry are the subject of a highly anticipated book, due for publication in August, which its authors have said they want to be a ‘definitive story’ about the couple.
And in another development in their lives, the duchess lost the first High Court skirmish in her claim against the publisher of the Mail on Sunday over publication of a ‘private and confidential’ letter to her estranged father.
She is suing Associated Newspapers over an article which reproduced parts of a handwritten note she sent to Mr Markle, 75, in August 2018, three months after he was unable to walk her down the aisle following a heart attack.
The former Suits actress claims her father’s decision to make the letter public in February 2019 – days after he was ‘vilified’ by five of her closest friends in a US magazine – had breached her privacy, copyright and data protection rights in a case now dubbed ‘Markle vs Markle’.
Large parts of her case against Associated Newspapers were dismissed as ‘irrelevant’, ‘inadequate’ and ‘impermissibly vague’ by a top judge last week, including her claims of a malicious media ‘agenda’ against her.
Mr Justice Warby has also ‘struck out’ her allegations that journalists had acted dishonestly and had caused the rift between her and her estranged father Thomas by ‘digging up dirt’ to portray Meghan in a ‘negative light’.
He said in his judgment: ‘I have struck out all the passages attacked in the application notice.
‘Some of the allegations are struck out as irrelevant to the purpose for which they are pleaded.
‘Some are struck out on the further or alternative ground that they are inadequately detailed.
‘I have also acted so as to confine the case to what is reasonably necessary and proportionate for the purpose of doing justice between these parties.’
From Queen Elizabeth to baby Archie: Royal babies through the years
A year ago today, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their first son Archie Harrison to the world. While a lot has changed since then, one thing has stayed the same — little Archie and the rest of the Royal babies are undoubtably adorable. In honor of Archie’s first birthday, we took a look back at all Royal babies through the years. Click through to see them all…
Princess Elizabeth: Now the Queen, Elizabeth arrived third in line to the throne on April 21 1926. She was born by caesarean section in her maternal grandparents’ London home, 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, while the home secretary Sir William Joynson-Hicks waited in the next room. The presence of the government minister was an age-old custom designed to ensure that no substitute had been smuggled in hidden in a warming pan or similar receptacle. Apparently one of Elizabeth’s first acts was to yawn at Sir William.
Elizabeth’s father George VI only became king after the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in 1936, so when she was born, the princess was not expected to be Queen. Pictured: Princess Elizabeth waves to crowds as she arrives back in Piccadilly in 1928.
Prince Charles: Now the Prince of Wales, baby Charles was born at Buckingham Palace – the Queen had all four of her children at home. The Duke of Edinburgh, said to be ‘not indifferent but restless’, played squash while his wife was in labour. Baby Charles arrived at 9:14pm on November 14, 1948, weighing 7lb 6oz. Pictured: Princess Elizabeth holding her son Charles after his christening. Charles’s birth was the first in centuries without a government minister present to witness the arrival of a future heir to the throne.
Princess Anne: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s second child, and their only daughter, Anne, now the Princess Royal, was born in 1950. Elizabeth wrote to a friend how she hoped Charles (pictured left) would take kindly to his new sibling, joking how he encountered one baby and ‘tried to pull her toes off and poke her eyes out’.
The prince grew into a sensitive home-loving child, while Anne, pictured center, was more boisterous: ‘Princess Anne was a very naughty little girl, a regular monkey,’ a member of Philip’s staff told biographer Sarah Bradford.
Prince Andrew: Now the Duke of York, Andrew was born in 1960 and was a chubby, happy baby. Pictured: With one hand for his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the other for big sister Princess Anne, laughing Prince Andrew sits up in his stroller on the grounds of Balmoral. He was the first baby born to a reigning monarch for 103 years, and the Queen, who was settled in her role as sovereign, had more time to devote to her third child.
Prince Edward: The Queen’s youngest offspring Prince Edward, now the Earl of Wessex, arrived in 1964, and she told a friend: ‘Goodness what fun it is to have a baby in the house again!’ Pictured: The Queen with Prince Edward as they leave Liverpool Street Station for Sandringham in 1964. Andrew was particularly fond of his younger brother, describing him as ‘my baby’.
Prince William: Now the Duke of Cambridge, Wills became the first future British king to be born in a hospital. He arrived at 9.03pm on June 21, 1982 at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington. Charles, who was at the birth, wrote to a friend: ‘He really does look surprisingly appetizing and has sausage fingers just like mine.’
At the time, new mothers usually stayed in hospital for between five and eight days after giving birth, but the Princess of Wales took many by surprise by leaving 21 hours after William was born. Pictured: Prince William at Kensington Palace in December 1982.
Prince Harry: Prince Henry of Wales, now known as just Harry, was born on September 15 1984. The arrival of a second son was a surprise to Charles, but not to Diana. The princess told biographer Andrew Morton when she collaborated with him on the bombshell book Diana: Her True Story: ‘I knew Harry was going to be a boy because I saw it on the scan. Charles always wanted a girl… I knew Harry was a boy and I didn’t tell him.’
A smiling Charles chatted to reporters outside the hospital, describing his new son as ‘marvelous’, adding when asked if he expected a boy: ‘No. It doesn’t matter what it was as long as it’s alright… I couldn’t be more delighted.’ Pictured: Three-month-old Prince Harry pulls at his historic Royal christening robe.
Prince George: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first child, Prince George, was introduced to the world on the steps of the Lindo Wing in 2013, wrapped in a white shawl.
The future king weighed 8lb 6oz, and the duke said in a statement that he and the duchess ‘could not be happier’. George’s next public appearance showed how much he had grown, when the three-month-old was carried into his christening by his proud father.
Princess Charlotte: Doll-like Princess Charlotte made her debut on the steps of the Lindo in 2015.
Charlotte was photographed by Kate at Anmer Hall ahead of her first birthday.
Prince Louis: The youngest Cambridge sibling, Prince Louis, arrived on patriotic St George’s Day in 2018. His name – a tribute to Charles’s much-loved great uncle Earl Mountbatten who was murdered by the IRA – was not announced until four days later. William joked he had ‘thrice the worry’ as he took the prince home to Kensington Palace.
Archie: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle presented Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor inside the majestic St George’s Hall – instead of outside the hospital where the baby was delivered – on May 8, 2019, two days after the baby was born. In a break with tradition, the former senior Royals decided to keep the birth of their first son private and instead posed for pictures and answered several questions before leaving the hall for a meeting with the Queen.
Four months later, Archie was pictured alongside his parents in South Africa during his first official tour. Royal fans were quick to point out the facial similarities between Prince Harry as a baby and his young son.
In Pictures: Baby Archie’s first year
Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, who is celebrating his first birthday, is the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s eighth great-grandchild.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son, who is seventh in line to the throne, arrived on May 6 2019, weighing 7lb 3oz.
Buckingham Palace announced Meghan was in labour just before 2pm that day, but in fact the American former actress had already given birth more than eight hours earlier at 5.26am.
An overjoyed Harry, speaking at Windsor Castle’s Royal Mews, confirmed the news of his son’s arrival, saying: ‘I’m very excited to announce that Meghan and myself had a baby boy earlier this morning, a very healthy boy.’
He added: ‘As every father and parent will ever say, you know, your baby is absolutely amazing, but this little thing is absolutely to die for, so I’m just over the moon.’
Two days later, baby Archie made his world debut wearing a knitted white hat and wrapped in a shawl in the historic surrounds of Windsor Castle, with his proud parents.
Meghan described him as having the ‘sweetest temperament’, saying: ‘He’s really calm.’
She added: ‘It’s magic, it’s pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world so I’m really happy.’
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is not entitled to be an HRH nor a prince.
Harry and Meghan chose not to use the courtesy title Earl of Dumbarton, which Archie would have been allowed, nor to style him Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, making a personal decision he should be a plain Master.
The couple revealed their son’s name after first introducing him to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor.
Archie means ‘genuine’, ‘bold’ and ‘brave’, while Harrison comes from ‘son of Harry’.
Harry and Meghan said last month that the Greek word ‘Arche’, meaning source of action, was their inspiration, and they will name their new charitable organisation Archewell.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were introduced to their great grandson son, along with the Duchess’s mother Doria Ragland
Archie’s place of birth was kept a secret until his birth certificate revealed he was born at the private Portland Hospital in London.
Like most royal christenings, Archie’s was private, but Harry and Meghan also decided not to release details of their son’s godparents.
Meghan and two-month-old Archie joined Harry at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day in July, alongside the Cambridges.
The newest member of the royal family was cradled by the duchess as she watched her husband play in the charity match against his brother the Duke of Cambridge in the Berkshire sunshine.
Archie later went on his first official royal tour when the Sussexes travelled to South Africa in September.
Aged four months, he received a welcome kiss from Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town.
The royal baby stole the show by giggling, smiling and captivating the anti-Apartheid movement hero.
Archie’s place of birth was kept a secret until his birth certificate revealed he was born at the private Portland Hospital in London.
Harry said about his son: ‘He’s so busy, constantly wanting to stand.’
Meghan revealed how Archie was growing fast when she met military families at a coffee morning in Windsor in November.
‘Archie just got two teeth. Two tiny ones, right there,’ she said, pointing to the middle of her own bottom row.
The youngster’s first Christmas was spent away from the royals and in Canada with his parents and his maternal grandmother Doria Ragland.
The Sussexes, who had spoken of their struggles with life in the public eye and launched legal action against the press, were taking a six-week break overseas from royal duties, but it ended up being more permanent.
In January, Harry and Meghan returned to the UK, without Archie who stayed in Canada, and promptly dropped a bombshell by announcing they wanted to step down as senior royals to earn their own money, while still supporting the Queen.
The Megxit crisis ended with the duke and duchess having to quit their roles as working royals completely.
In a speech explaining his reasoning at a Sentebale dinner, Harry told how he hoped for a more peaceful life for his family.
He also revealed how a thrilled Archie had experienced his first snowfall on Vancouver Island.
‘It has also been a privilege to meet so many of you, and to feel your excitement for our son Archie, who saw snow for the first time the other day and thought it was bloody brilliant!’ the duke said.
Harry and Meghan no longer use their HRH styles and are pursuing a life of financial freedom in the US, setting up home with Archie in Meghan’s home city of Los Angeles.
Archie joined in with a video call to his great-grandmother the Queen on her 94th birthday two weeks ago as she marked the occasion in lockdown.