THE FIGHT FOR BABY ARCHIE
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are already splitting time with their son
For years, his biggest wish was to become a dad and in May this year, at long last, Prince Harry’s dream became a reality when he welcomed adorable Master Archie into the world. Now, just a short seven months later, the embattled prince is facing the real prospect of a life without his little boy as his marriage continues to falter.
As Harry, 35, and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, spend the festive season hidden in Los Angeles on a break – which insiders claim is definitely a last-ditch last- ditch attempt to repair their relationship – royal sources say the prince’s biggest concern if he and Meghan do split is that he’ll be forced to spend less time with his son.
“They’re very much taking this space and time away from the spotlight to assess their future together and decide whether or not to keep working at their marriage or just make a clean break,” one royal source tells Woman’s Day of the couple. “After a long and emotional talk, they’ve decided the best way to work on their marriage is to have some space from one another in LA to test the waters, and that means essentially splitting custody of Archie, too.
DADDY DAY CARE
“Harry’s been really enjoying spending one-on-one time with his son – taking him to local play groups for baby gym classes and doing things he often doesn’t get time to do like sit and read books to him, playing peekaboo and
revelling in bath time – making bubbles which he says Archie loves.
“But while he adores this time together, Harry then has to endure lonely days without Archie when he’s with Meghan. And deep down he knows if it comes to it, the duchess will fight for full custody of their only child.”
With reports Meghan, 38, could be set to relocate to the US next year, it’s easy to see why Harry is, quite simply, beside himself.
In October, the prince choked up while making an address at a Wellchild charity event in London. “They [the awards] never fail to inspire me – but this year it resonates in a different way because now I’m a father,” a tearful Harry said. “Talking to all of you as a parent pulls at my heartstrings in a way I never could have understood, until
I had a child of my own.”
And royal insiders says he’s happier with Archie in his arms that he ever has been before.
“They’ve been managing to amicably co-parent Archie, which he says is a very positive sign that if they do split, they can continue carrying out the model they’ve been practising,” our source adds. “But just the thought of being away from his little boy is already tearing Harry apart.”
‘The duchess will fight for full custody of their only child’