It’s magic.. pretty amazing
Proud parents’ delight as excited fans get first look at Archie Harrison Doting mum glows with happiness praising his ‘sweetest temperament’
BEAMING with pride as they introduced their baby boy to the world, Prince Harry and wife Meghan talked of how much joy little Archie has already brought them.
The Duchess of Sussex let out a shy giggle as she said: “It’s magic, it’s pretty amazing.”
She added: “He’s just been the dream so it’s been a special couple of days.”
Also paying tribute to Harry, who was grinning beside her, Meghan said: “I have the two best guys in the world, so I’m really happy.”
Cradling the baby in his arms, Harry said: “It’s great. Parenting is amazing. It’s only been twoand-a-half days, three days, but we’re just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy.”
Four hours after the photocall in St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle, the couple announced they had named their newborn Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
A royal source said last night: “The name Archie was chosen due to its links with ancient Greek meaning ‘leader’; and Harrison simply means ‘Harry’s son’.”
Royal watchers also wondered if Star Wars fan Harry lobbied for the name because of his love of one of the main stars, Harrison Ford.
Harry and Meghan chose to announce the name after they had the opportunity to introduce their two-day-old son to the Queen, who met them at one of Windsor Castle’s private apartments yesterday afternoon.
SWEETEST
The noon photocall, with just one photographer and one reporter, was scheduled to be held in the relaxed setting of the Windsor Great Park or in the gardens of the family’s new home at neighbouring Frogmore Cottage.
But the unpredictable weather scuppered the plan and the couple were forced to decamp to the majestic St George’s Hall where they had entertained family and friends for their daytime wedding reception almost exactly one year ago.
Meghan, in a white designer Grace Wales Bonner dress, said: “He has the sweetest temperament, he’s really calm.”
As they both laughed, Harry, 34, said: “I don’t know who he gets that from.”
American former actress Meghan, 37, gave birth to the overdue 7lb 3oz boy on Monday at 5.26am. Buckingham Palace have confirmed Harry and Meghan have chosen not to use a title for their first born.
As the first born son of a duke, Archie could have become Earl of Dumbarton – one of Harry’s subsidiary titles – or Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, but instead he will be Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. Baby Sussex, as he had been known for months, was finally named publicly just after 4.45pm. He is seventh in line to the throne.
Asked who the baby takes after, Meghan said: “We’re still trying to figure that out.”
Harry, who bounced on his heels like an excited schoolboy yesterday, said: “Everyone says babies change so much over two weeks.
“His looks are changing every day, so who knows.” The baby slept soundly throughout the proceedings. Harry said they were looking forward to spending some “precious times with him as he slowly, slowly starts to grow up”.
Asked about the plans to see the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Meghan revealed they had just had an impromptu meeting with Prince Philip, saying: “We just bumped into the duke as we were walking by, which was so nice.
“It’ll be a nice moment to introduce the baby to more family, and my mum’s with us as well.”
Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland is staying with the couple at Frogmore Cottage on the castle’s estate in Berkshire. On the day he showed off his son to the world, Harry was wearing two beaded bracelets – one believed to be from a 1997 trip to Africa shortly after his mother died.
His brother, Prince William, has been seen wearing a similar bracelet.
Meghan put her hand on the small of Harry’s back as she listened to him talk at the intimate photocall.
It was certainly different from the crowds of well-wishers and the scores of journalists outside the
Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, in Central London, which have greeted William and Kate after the births of their three children.
Despite the private nature of the birth plans, Harry and
Meghan preserved one royal tradition going back decades when they introduced their son to the world for the first time, swaddling him in a white merino wool shawl knitted by a small, family-run company.
Harry, dressed in a light grey suit, cradled baby Archie as he was tucked up in the hand-finished shawl made by Nottingham company GH Hurt & Son. It is called the Leaves And Flowers Baby Shawl and costs £105.
Asked to show more of their son’s face to the camera, Meghan laughed as Harry joked: “He’s already got a little bit of facial hair as well – wonderful.”
Before turning to leave, Meghan said: “Thank you everybody for all the well wishes and kindness, it just means so much.”
After the photocall, the Queen, 93, and Philip, 97, joined their newest great-grandson alongside Meghan’s mum.
During the second day of Prince Charles and wife Camilla’s tour of Germany, the Duchess of Cornwall was given a huge teddy bear to give to the new royal baby.
An excited well-wisher got the attention of Camilla and said: “Congratulations, this is for your new grandchild.”
The teddy bear wore a white T-shirt which said “Baby Sussex”.
Harry is also on his travels today, but he and Meghan will settle back into life as a family when the prince returns from a flying visit to The Hague in the Netherlands, after launching the one-year countdown to the multi-sport Invictus Games which he created.
He’s just been the dream, so it’s been a special couple of days MEGHAN PRAISES HER NEW SON’S CALM NATURE