ARCHIE’S FIRST BIRTHDAY
Sitting on mum Meghan’s lap and showing off his first teeth as he smiled at the camera, little Archie looked the spitting image of his dad, Prince Harry, in a video shared on his first birthday. The clip – which showed Meghan reading to her son as part of a fundraiser for Save the Children – delighted royal fans across the globe. Princess Diana gave her sons Harry and William the gift of reading, so many saw it as a sweet tribute to her.
But for Archie’s family back in Britain, it was just another reminder of what they’ve missed in the wake of Harry and Meghan’s decision to quit royal duties. “The Queen, Prince
Charles and the rest of the royals will be delighted to see Archie looking so bonny but they obviously have mixed feelings,” royals expert Phil Dampier tells New Idea. “Harry and Meghan have chosen to live in America and now with coronavirus, there is no immediate prospect of [the royal family] seeing him in person. It’s a real shame. The crisis may have made Harry think more about what he’s done and how it would be tragic if he didn’t see more of his blood family.”
For Prince William, seeing the footage of his nephew would have been particularly tough. “George and Charlotte are now of an age where they can understand they’re not seeing their cousin, and I’m sure they must ask about him.
“Archie is growing up fast and the family are missing some of his most precious moments.”