For all their talk of living a quieter life, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle never left the spotlight when they moved to the US.
Their new documentary series has sent shockwaves through the royal sphere, leaving viewers with a range of emotions from happy, to angry, to surprised, and even shocked. In the released episodes, the couple share insights into their early relationship and the road toward their marriage.
Yet they also – expectedly or unexpectedly – take aim the Royal Family and what they felt they were exposed to before leaving it. Moreover, they also share a glimpse into their private life as their children, Archie and Lilibet, grow up.
The children will spend this Christmas with their family on Meghan’s side, as Harry and his wife reportedly won’t travel to Sandringham to enjoy the holidays with the British royals. Archie and Lilibet have largely been kept out of the spotlight – their parents have chosen not to release too many pictures of them at all.
However, in the Netflix documentary series, Harry and Meghan are in many ways inviting fans into their private life. Naturally, that means sharing pictures and videos of their beloved children. With that in mind, one thing in particular has stood out to viewers – and it might just reveal a big secret about Archie.
Before Archie could even talk or walk, he was caught up in a considerable controversy within the Royal Family. It all started with the infamous Oprah Winfrey interview, where his mother, Meghan spoke openly about her time and troubles where living in the UK was concerned.
Archie – allegations over comment about his skin color
She revealed many things about the Firm, including that then-Prince Charles was refusing to take Harry’s phone calls.
However, the most shocking part occurred when Meghan claimed conversations had taken place within the palace concerning how dark Archie’s skin would be prior to his birth.
“They were concerned that if he were too brown, that that would be a problem?” Oprah asked Meghan.
“I wasn’t able to follow up with why,” Meghan replied. “But that — if that’s the assumption you’re making, I think that feels like a pretty safe one.”
She declined to name the person who commented, adding only: “I think that would be very damaging to them.”
By the time Harry and Meghan’s royal duties officially ended on March 31, 2020, they had already welcomed Archie. The family are now four after the arrival of their daughter, Lilibet, in 2021.
Tradition dictates that the mother and father of a new royal baby are expected to release the first image of their child. And only two days after Archie’s arrival in 2019, it became so.
“Today, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are delighted to share their first public moment as a family,” the post read, along with pictures of an overjoyed Prince Harry holding his son, standing arm in arm with Meghan.
Meghan snubbed Kate about taking first picture of Archie
Now, it’s important to note that the Oprah interview was not the only incident that put Archie in the spotlight.
When he was born, the Royal Family was, of course, delighted for Harry and Meghan. That also went for Harry’s brother, William, and Kate Middleton, and the now-Princess of Wales reportedly wanted to show her appreciation by asking about a very special assignment.
Royal expert Neil Sean revealed that Kate offered to take the first newborn pictures of Archie. However, he claims that Meghan turned it down, instead wanting to “hire a photographer” for the job.
“This was a very special gesture from the now-Princess of Wales to Meghan Markle when she had her first child, Archie,” Sean said in a Youtube video, as reported by Express. He added that Kate offered to “take the personal picture of baby Archie” after other professional photographers had “commended” her portfolio.
“According to that good source, apparently, Meghan turned that opportunity down flat,” Sean continued. “And as ever, we have to say allegedly [but] we’re not quite sure why [Meghan turned Kate’s offer down].
“You didn’t need to hire a photographer, as Harry and Meghan did.”
Kate Middleton has been a passionate photographer all her life. Earlier this year, she got a job as the photographer of Camilla’s guest edition of Country Life Magazine, and so took photographs of her in the gardens of Ray Mill House in Lacock, Wiltshire. On this occasion, however, she was not given permission to photograph Harry and Meghan’s beloved son.
Archie & Lilibet’s first UK trip
Lilibet has also been the focal point for another controversial happening. At least, in the eyes of her parents, Harry and Meghan.
The pair’s children, Archie and Lilibet, traveled to the UK with them to celebrate Trooping of the Colour last year. It was the first time Lilibet had ever visited her father’s homeland. As per sources, on Saturday, June 4, her parents threw her a party to celebrate their daughter’s first birthday.
Harry and Meghan were said to have arranged a backyard picnic at Frogmore Cottage, their UK home. Their friend, Misan Harriman, released a wonderful picture of the little girl celebrating her birthday. Archie was, of course, also in attendance.
Harry and Meghan reportedly had a cake made by baker Claire Ptak for the birthday picnic, the same baker who made the cake for the couple’s wedding in 2018.
The picnic at Frogmore Cottage marked the first time that Lilibet met her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and her grandfather, Prince Charles.
Yet while they must have been pleased to see Lilibet, no photos of Charles and Elizabeth meeting her were released. As The Sun reported, the Queen actually banned Harry and Meghan from having a photographer present.
“Harry and Meghan wanted their photographer to capture the moment Lilibet met the Queen,” an insider told The Sun.
“But they were told no chance. It was a private family meeting.”
Queen “refused” Harry and Meghan’s photo request
According to royal expert Camilla Tominey, the Queen refused to take a photo with the little girl because she had a bloodshot eye. Tominey claims that the monarch did not want to be in any images that would be made public. But Harry was “persistent” in wanting a photo to be taken.
“When the couple made another beeline for Windsor Castle, traveling straight there after landing at Farnborough Airport, she refused their request to have professional photographs taken with Archie, three, and her namesake Lilibet, one,” she said.
“Claiming she had a bloodshot eye, she adroitly denied the Sussexes the photo opportunity they craved.”
Tominey wrote that Harry was rumored to have expressed his desire to get a photo between the two “at some point in the future.” Sadly, it never happened, as the Queen passed away just three months later.
Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary aired last week. The first three episodes of the documentary mainly explore Harry and Meghan’s childhood. Moreover, the couple gives fans insight into the early days of their relationship and even a sneak peek at the messages the two sent each other during that initial phase.
The episodes included new intimate interviews and never-before-seen footage of the Sussexes. Prince Harry told the story of how the couple met in full, revealing that Meghan first caught his eye on Instagram when she appeared in a mutual friend’s video.
Harry and Meghan – Netflix documentary series
Though Harry and Meghan revealed many things in the first three episodes of their Netflix documentary series, more is still to come. The latest trailer for the second part of the six-episode series features the Sussexes taking aim at the royals, with Harry saying “they” decided to protect his brother, William, and not him.
But even though there has been – and will be plenty more – drama in the couple’s documentary, Harry and Meghan have also given fans a glimpse into their personal life with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
In the first episode of the Netflix documentary, Harry and Meghan gave an intimate look into the family life at their home in Montecito, California. Their home was previously described as “Fort Knox,” and security is tight. But now, for the first time, Harry and Meghan will let royal fans worldwide into their estate. There, they’ll find Archie and Lilibet.
Harry and Meghan have been very restrictive about showing their children to the world. Archie and Lilibet have only appeared a few times in pictures, but now, the world will get a closer look at them.
Even though the documentary has more serious parts, 3-year-old Archie stole the show, appearing several times. Not only that, but viewers got to hear him speak for the first time.
So it was that a major talking point was spawned …
In one heartwarming scene filmed by Meghan, Prince Harry can be seen birdwatching with Archie from the patio of their Montecito mansion.
Archie and Lilibet featured in documentary
Meghan was also watching the hummingbirds near their house, and Harry, an avid bird watcher, told his son that he should be quiet and just listen to the sounds of nature.
“We won’t get a chance to be this close to hummingbirds ever again,” Harry told Archie.
Of course, with Archie being just 3 years old, he did the exact opposite. Just moments after being told to stay quiet by his father, he became rather loud.
“I’ve got a dirty foot mama because I was with you,” Archie said, and his parents started laughing.
“You’ve got a dirty foot, sweetheart,” Meghan replied. “Papa is a birdwatcher so this is a really big moment for him.”
The documentary also included several intimate family pictures of Harry and Meghan with Archie. In one of the clips, Archie runs up a hill while Lilibet is pushed in a stroller by her father. Another of the royal couple’s photos shows Harry cuddling up with Archie – wearing a knitted hooded jumper with bear ears – beneath an umbrella.
More photos follow, including those showing Archie and Meghan feeding their chickens, and another from Archie’s birthday party where Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, makes an appearance.
Archie & Harry’s wonderful father-son moment
We all know that the late Princess Diana has been a significant figure for the Royal Family, but most of all for her sons, William and Harry. Harry has previously spoken about his mother, even comparing his wife Meghan to her regarding the media following her around.
Diana also had a small part in the Netflix documentary, and not only in how Harry describes her. In a heartbreaking scene, Meghan can be seen holding Archie in front of a picture of Diana while she explains who she was.
Other intimate pictures in the documentary revealed Archie resting on Meghan’s baby bump when she was pregnant with Lilibet. But the cutest picture of them all might be one where Archie is wearing a blue hat and blue Crocs, sitting on Harry’s shoulder in a sweet father-son moment.
Another short video of Archie was also included in the documentary. It shows a beautiful sunset from the Sussexes’ patio, while Meghan asks Archie what he thinks of it.
“Well, it’s all done, beautiful,” he answered.
The fact that Archie is talking might not come as a surprise. However, many fans reacted to the manner of Archie speech.
Archie’s American accent, revealed
As he’s been living in the US for quite a while, the young boy has adopted an American accent – and fans couldn’t help but remark on it.
“Not Archie having the most adorable American accent,” one user wrote on Twitter.
“Prince Archie has an American accent? I didn’t have any expectations of what he’d sound like but it was not that,” a second person tweeted.
Previously, experts have spoken on the subject of Archie’s accent. The fact that he’s living in the US and interacting with other local children, of course means he will sound American, as opposed to British.
However, there are cases where children living in the US who have family in the UK can switch between accents when they travel across the Atlantic.
One expert, Geoffrey Pullum, linguist and emeritus professor of general linguistics at the University of Edinburgh, argues that Archie’s accent will also change as he grows older.
“If Archie’s first experience of mixing with other kids is in a Los Angeles preschool, he will develop a Californian US accent,” Pullum said.
“He may learn to speak like an American kid in California, but be able to switch to a British accent when he visits in England,” Berko Gleason, an emerita professor at Boston University who researches language acquisition, added.
