Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are proud parents of two beautiful children who were recently given the right to carry royal titles, that of a prince and a princess.
They welcomed their first child, Archie, while they were still working royals. The little one was born at The Portland Hospital in London on May 6, 2019. However, even before he was welcomed into the world, Archie found himself in a middle of a controversy when his parents gave Oprah an interview during which they revealed that a senior royal questioned his color.
When Archie was born, Harry wasn’t much interested in revealing details surrounding the birth of the baby. However, he was forced into sharing with the people that Archie arrived into the world due to the breach of the “unwritten contract between the royals and the public.”
Harry and Meghan posed with him in front of the Portland Hospital in London, where he was born, as is the tradition.
“Today The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are delighted to shаrе their first public moment as a family,” the Sussexes wrote.
Although both Prince Harry and Prince William, as well as many other members of the royal family, including William’s children, were born at St Mary’s Hospital, the Sussexes chose not to give birth to Archie there.
“He and Meghan were thrilled to be safely delivered of their son in London’s private Portland hospital even before the palace press office had confirmed the duchess was in labor.”
In her book The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown, author Katie Nicholl described Harry as “almost morbidly obsessed” with keeping Archie’s birth as secretive as possible.
“Behind the scenes, matters were so fraught that more than one official — as I know from personal experience — was reduced to tears of frustration and despair,” Rebecca English, royal editor of the Daily Mail, added.
Now, with the family residing in the States, they don’t need to worry about cameras or paparazzi photographers that much, nor they are forced to post photos of their children on their birthdays, as it is with the royal family’s tradition.
They also shаrеd photos of the little one meeting his great-grandma, Queen Elizabeth, for the first time.
Later, as Archie grew a bit, Harry and Meghan took a trip to South Africa where they met Archbishop Desmond Tutu. “Thank you Archbishop Tutu for your incredibly warm hospitality, Archie loved meeting you!” they wrote on Instagram along with a series of photos of their son.
Except for that, they have tried keeping both their children out of the spotlight as much as possible.
However, that changed when the Netflix documentary about Harry and Meghan, consisting of six episodes, aired.
In the documentary series, Meghan explained how she was anxious about what might happen the day her baby boy was born.
“There was already the pressure of the picture on the steps. … But I had been really worried going into that labor because I’m older, I didn’t know if I’d have to have a c-section, and I had a very longstanding relationship with my doctor, and that’s who I trusted with my pregnancy,” she said.
On Sunday, June 6, 2021, the Sussexes welcomed their baby daughter, Lilibet Diana. The couple were eager to pay tribute to Lili’s great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II whose nickname as a child was Lilibet, and her grandmother, Princess Diana.
However, experts claimed at the time that the Queen wasn’t happy with the choice of the name. Further, they claimed choosing that name was “disrespectful.”
“Even naming this child sparked a diplomatic scuffle. Hating even to think about the admittedly labyrinthine rules of protocol that surrounded the British royal family, Meghan, and Harry called her Lilibet, apparently in the belief that it would be a wonderful surprise for her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth,” royal expert Tom Quinn wrote in his book Gilded Youth An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family.
“That Harry did not have the sense to predict that this would cause trouble is beyond belief. He surely would have known that appropriating the monarch’s beloved childhood nickname would be perceived by many as disrespectful and intrusive in a way that naming their daughter Elizabeth would have not been.”
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“The Queen may well have been upset that her grandson and his family laid claim to the intimate nickname that had always been very much part of the Queen’s private life, but it is perhaps more likеly that the flunkeys who surround the monarch and some of the starchier older royals were irritated by what they saw as a presumption.”
Before Lili was born, Meghan fell pregnant in 2020, but she suffered miscarriage.
At one point, Meghan opened up about the heartbreak she and Prince Harry experienced after losing the baby.
She shаrеd a powerful essay on grief after miscarriage written for The New York Times, The Losses We Share, which touched many.
“Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few,” the 39-year-old Duchess explained.
“I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right.
“I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.
“Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal.”
Even today, when the anniversary of her miscarriage approaches, Meghan feels the same pain.
“She feels so blessed to have Archie and Lili and the family she and Harry have created. But naturally, as the anniversary of her miscarriage approaches, she does have sadness. The date is very poignant for her,” a person close to her told OK!.
“But Meghan is always looking towards the future and is just so grateful for the happiness she has in her life with Harry and the kids.”
She wants her children to understand that “mummies work as well.” At the same time, “Her family life will always come first, she will fit work in around the children’s schedules so she is there for them when they need her and she just wants to make the most of and cherish every moment with them as they grow up,” the source explained.
Meghan doesn’t want to be away from her children for a longer period of time and that is one of the reasons why she and Harry made a decision to take their children with them when traveling abroad in the future.
“Meghan doesn’t likе being away from her children as she doesn’t want to miss a thing with them growing up so fast,” a source told OK!.
“With Lili turning three, it’s really got Meghan and Harry thinking about their future and how quickly the children are growing up. Meghan especially feels that her babies are no longer babies, and likе most mums, it makes her slightly sad and wistful that the baby years have come to an end.”
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My MIL Came to My Work Demanding I Pay for Expensive Caviar — the Lesson I Taught Her Had Everyone Applauding
My mother-in-law and I never saw eye to eye, and she always tried to get under my skin. But when she pulled a stunt at my workplace, I had enough and decided to teach her a valuable lesson then and there, to the praise of my colleagues and manager.
Yesterday, I was about halfway through my shift at an upscale grocery store where I work part-time when I saw her: Denise, my mother-in-law (MIL). She was strolling through the automatic doors like she was walking into her kingdom. Little did I know that her presence would cause a confrontation where I was forced to stand up for myself.
A cashier in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
The store’s faint background music did nothing to dull the sound of her heels clacking on the polished floor as she made her grand entrance, dripping with expensive jewelry. Denise had that air about her like everyone should stop what they were doing and admire her presence.
And to be honest, she kind of expected it.
She was in her usual “look-at-me” outfit: a tailored designer coat, big sunglasses despite it being perfectly lit indoors, and a diamond necklace that probably cost more than I made in a year.
A well-dressed woman in a store | Source: Midjourney
When she strutted straight toward my register, a smirk already forming on her lips, my stomach did a little flip. What on earth was she doing here?
Denise had never come to my job before, and at that very moment, part of me wished it could’ve stayed that way forever. The woman had a way of making me feel two inches tall as if her disapproving looks and passive-aggressive comments weren’t enough of a daily reminder that I wasn’t “good enough” for her precious son, Jack.
A man posing alone | Source: Freepik
We’ve been married for five years, and still, my MIL found ways to remind me that I didn’t measure up to her standards. My husband didn’t help much and always appeared to take her side to avoid further drama, saying things like, “That’s just how Mom is.”
His unwillingness to have my back drove me insane! But I love him and believed my MIL would eventually get tired. For years, I put up with her antics and continued biting my tongue… until yesterday. Yesterday was the last time Denise messed with me because I taught her a lesson she’d never forget.
Here’s how it happened…
A cashier in a store | Source: Midjourney
She stopped in front of my register and gave me that fake smile that sent chills down my spine. In her arms were two cans of caviar, the specialty, high-end, top-of-the-line kind that cost more than my rent.
I glanced at the price tags. Yep, it was as bad as I thought: hundreds of dollars for two tiny tins.
“Sweetheart,” Denise said in that sickly sweet tone she always used when she wanted something. She dropped the cans down with a soft thud on the counter and glanced over her shoulder, probably making sure we had an audience.
“I need you to take care of this.”
An arrogant woman placing caviar on the counter | Source: Midjourney
Confused, I blinked, trying to process what she was asking.
“Sure,” I replied, reaching to scan the cans for her, but she stopped me to clarify.
“No, silly, I need you to TAKE CARE OF IT, darling,” she replied, looking annoyed but thrilled to be putting me on the spot.
“Take care of it?” I repeated, unsure if I’d heard her right or understood what she really wanted.
Denise tilted her head and gave me a pitying look like I was a child who couldn’t understand basic math.
“PAY for the caviar, my dear. You’ve always been so slow,” she said as if she were explaining the most obvious thing in the world.
An unhappy woman with her arms crossed | Source: Midjourney
“See, I’m hosting a little dinner party tonight, and my friends are expecting ONLY the best. I’m sure Jack wouldn’t mind if you helped out. After all, it’s what family does. And I’m certain you wouldn’t want me to disappoint my guests, would you?”
I stared at her, my hands frozen on the register. Stunned is an understatement for how I felt at that moment. I wanted to laugh, but the words were caught in my throat.
“Denise, this is hundreds of dollars’ worth of caviar,” I said, my voice low, trying to keep my composure. “I can’t—”
But she cut me off with a dismissive wave of her hand.
A woman waving her hand dismissively | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” she scoffed. “My Jack will cover it. You’re his wife, and it’s your job to help with things like this.”
Now, I had put up with a lot from Denise over the years, but this? This was new. She wanted me to shell out hundreds of dollars, on the spot, for some caviar that she absolutely didn’t need, just so she could impress her fancy friends!
My co-workers were watching, probably wondering what was happening. I could feel their eyes on me, the customers in line shifting awkwardly as they pretended not to eavesdrop.
Shocked customers staring in one direction | Source: Midjourney
“Denise,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “I’m not paying for your caviar.”
Her smile faltered, but only for a second. She quickly recovered, brushing off my refusal like a minor inconvenience.
“Oh, come on, honey,” she said, her voice dripping with false kindness. “Don’t be selfish. You know how important this is to me. My friends expect the best.” She leaned in closer and whispered, “If you don’t help me out here, I’ll make sure Jack knows exactly how uncooperative you’re being.”
A woman addressing someone | Source: Midjourney
That was it…
Something inside me snapped. I wasn’t about to let this woman blackmail me in front of a crowd, in my own workplace no less! I squared my shoulders and gave her a sweet but tight-lipped smile, pretending to go along with her demands.
“You know what, Denise?” I said, my voice a little louder now. “You’re absolutely right. I’ll take care of it.”
Her eyes lit up with satisfaction, convinced she had won. “I knew you’d see reason,” she said, already preparing to bask in her victory.
A woman smiling in a store | Source: Midjourney
I grabbed the cans of caviar and scanned them, feeling the weight of every dollar as it added up on the register. My heart was pounding, but I knew exactly what I was going to do. After I bagged the caviar when my MIL wasn’t looking, I leaned forward and pressed the microphone button at my register.
My voice rang out loud and clear over the speakers as I gave Denise a taste of her own medicine, but amplified…
A woman holding a megaphone | Source: Midjourney
“Attention, shoppers,” I said, trying to keep the glee out of my voice.
“I’d like to introduce you all to a very special guest today, my mother-in-law, Denise! She’s here to buy two cans of our finest caviar, and she’s asked me, her cashier daughter-in-law, to pay for them. Let’s give her a round of applause for being such a generous family member!”
For a split second, the store was dead silent. Then, someone in the back started clapping, slowly at first, but then others joined in. Soon enough, the whole store was clapping and cheering!
Customers clapping in a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
My co-workers were grinning from ear to ear, and even the customers in line were chuckling and clapping along!
Denise’s face turned a shade of red I’d never seen before!
“What the hell are YOU doing?” she hissed under her breath, glaring at me like I’d just committed a crime.
I kept smiling, pretending to be oblivious.
“Oh, I just thought everyone should know how generous you are, Denise. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
A smug cashier | Source: Midjourney
She snatched the bag from the counter, her lips pressed into a thin line. Without another word, she stormed out of the store, her heels clicking furiously against the tile floor as the applause continued!
It didn’t stop until she was well out the door, and by then, I was practically glowing from the satisfaction of it all!
After she left, my co-worker Rachel sidled up next to me, barely able to contain her laughter.
“That,” she whispered, “was the most LEGENDARY thing I’ve ever seen!”
A shocked cashier | Source: Midjourney
The store manager, who’d been watching the whole thing from the back, gave me a wink as he passed by. “Remind me to never get on your bad side,” he said, grinning.
I couldn’t stop smiling as I finished my shift. It wasn’t just the applause or the fact that I’d finally stood up to Denise in such a public way. It was knowing that, for once, I’d outplayed her.
It wasn’t until later that night, when I got home, that the full impact of what happened hit me. Jack was sitting on the couch, his phone in hand, looking confused and impressed at the same time.
A confused man looking at his phone | Source: Freepik
“What the hell happened with my mom today?” he asked, not quite able to hide the hint of a smile.
I sat down next to him and told him everything. I braced myself, expecting him to be mad or at least a little annoyed. But instead, he just shook his head, fighting back a laugh.
“You know,” he said, “I think she might leave us alone for a while.”
And guess what? He was right. My MIL hasn’t called, texted, or shown up since!
A happy couple | Source: Midjourney
Denise sadly isn’t the only troublesome MIL out there. Jane moved in with her son and his wife, pretending to have issues with her home, only to find out she wanted to monitor the couple and ensure they give her grandchildren. Her daughter-in-law was having none of it and retaliated the best way she knew how.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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