Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn’t move to the US alone; they brought their son, Prince Archie, with them when they first flew to Canada. In 2021, they moved into their multimillion-dollar mansion in Montecito, California, and welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet.
Even though Archie and Lilibet are still very young, they are often talked about in the news. Lilibet recently turned three, but no members of the Royal Family attended her birthday party. People are wondering what kind of relationship Archie and Lilibet will have with their UK-based cousins – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. There’s a rumor that King Charles wants to be more involved in the lives of Harry and Meghan’s children.
This fall, Archie is starting kindergarten, and Lilibet is getting ready for preschool. Harry and Meghan have been looking at schools for them, but one US journalist called them “frauds” because of this.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to the US to have a more private life, away from the paparazzi and the pressures of being part of the royal family. It’s said they knew just days after their wedding that they didn’t want to stay in the royal family for long.
When Archie was born in 2019, they had already started trying to become more private. They didn’t want to be used as “puppets” by the royal family for fans and the media around the world.
Harry & Meghan ‘tricked” reports when Archie was born
In her book The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown, royal expert Katie Nicholl said that Harry was “almost morbidly obsessed” with keeping Archie’s birth a secret, which is very different from the usual way royal babies are born.
Despite many fans and the public wanting to know about the baby, Harry and Meghan’s wish for privacy was ignored and seen as part of the “unwritten contract between the royals and the public.”
Rebecca English, the royal editor of the Daily Mail, mentioned that things were so tense behind the scenes that some officials were reduced to tears out of frustration and despair.
Usually, when a royal baby is born, the parents pose for photos on the hospital steps and answer a few questions before going back to their private life. But according to Katie Nicholl, Harry and Meghan wanted to handle Archie’s birth differently. Instead of openly facing the media, they tricked reporters and photographers.
Prince William, Prince Harry, and William’s children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—were all born at St Mary’s Hospital, where their first baby photos were taken. However, Meghan’s doctor worked at Portland Hospital, so it made sense for her to have Archie there instead.
Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet
An added bonus for Harry and Meghan was that the entrance at Portland Hospital made taking photos impossible due to safety concerns.
“Harry had always enjoyed outsmarting the media,” wrote Katie Nicholl in The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown. She added that Harry and Meghan were thrilled to have their son at Portland Hospital in London before the palace press office even confirmed Meghan was in labor.
Lilibet’s birth was different. She was born in June 2021 in California, where no paparazzi got close. However, it wasn’t long before Harry and Meghan brought their kids back into the public eye.
Two years after Lilibet’s birth, Harry and Meghan announced that they had given their children the titles of prince and princess. While they claim these titles are their children’s birthright, not everyone agreed it was a good idea. Royal expert Angela Levin believes it could have a negative impact on Archie and Lilibet’s futures.
In an article for Sky, Angela Levin said that Lilibet now has a heavy burden because of her parents’ decision.
“It will take a long time for little Lilibet to understand the burden her parents have put on her,” Levin said.
She added that by giving their daughter an official royal title, Harry and Meghan have now “attached her to the British Royal Family,” which they have criticized for many years.
“Why would you want your daughter to go through such trouble?” Levin asked, saying that Lilibet’s daily life will be more difficult because she has the title of princess.
King Charles ‘desperate’ to meet Archie & Lilibet
“Little girls love pretending to be princesses at parties, but if Lilibet is the only real princess in her class, it could cause jealousy that could be avoided,” the royal expert said.
Archie and Lilibet are growing up quickly. Archie turned 5 in May, and Lilibet turned 3 a little over a week ago. On June 5, Lilibet had a birthday party, but no members of her royal family attended. Princess Eugenie is the only royal who has visited Harry, Meghan, and their children in California.
Although King Charles’s relationship with Harry and Meghan is strained, he is reportedly “heartbroken” about not having a relationship with Archie and Lilibet. The King has only met Archie five times and Lilibet once.
Speaking with the Mirror, royal expert Ingrid Seward said Charles’s cancer diagnosis has made his relationship with Archie and Lilibet even more poignant, as he realizes he “won’t be around forever.”
“Family has always been important to the King. He remembers his own fragmented childhood because his parents were always busy with their duties. It is a great sadness to him that he doesn’t see more of Archie and Lilibet,” Seward explained.
“That’s why he will never cut ties with Harry. He doesn’t want to only see his son’s children on FaceTime. He wants to know them and be part of their lives while they are still young enough to learn from him. His cancer diagnosis has made this even more important to him because he knows he won’t be around forever.”
Meghan revealed real reason why Archie will never attend a UK school
Only time will tell what Harry and Meghan’s children will do when they grow up. They can choose any path they want, including working as royals. However, their parents likely plan for them to attend some of the best and most expensive schools in the world.
Their UK relatives have gone to famous schools like Gordonstoun in Scotland and Eton in England. But it’s said that Harry and Meghan wouldn’t let their son go to school in the UK.
In a 2022 article for The Cut, journalist Allison Davis shared a conversation she had with Meghan Markle. Meghan said she didn’t want her son Archie to attend school in the UK because of safety concerns.
Meghan explained that if Archie went to school in the UK, she would never be able to pick him up or drop him off without a crowd of photographers taking pictures. She told Allison, “Sorry, I have a problem with that. It doesn’t mean I’m obsessed with privacy. It means I’m a strong and good parent protecting my child.”
Archie and Lilibet have a lot of time before they start high school or college. For now, they will probably go to a school near their home in Montecito, California, where they live.
Harry and Meghan “inspecting” expensive private school for Archie & Lilibet
One journalist says that Harry and Meghan have started looking at schools in their area, but they’re getting a lot of criticism for their choices.
Richard Mineards from the Montecito Journal told the Mirror that Harry and Meghan checked out a local private school, which is very expensive.
“The couple was seen visiting the school campus last week, getting closer to making a decision,” Mineards said.
He added, “In our area, school fees range from $50,000 to $60,000 or more for older grades, and most students go on to four-year colleges.”
It’s assumed that Harry and Meghan can afford to send their children to private schools. However, not everyone is happy about Harry looking at such an expensive school.
US journalist Lee Cohen has criticized the royal couple, calling them “frauds.” In an interview with GB News, he said it’s “infuriating” that the Sussexes are planning to enroll their kids in an “outrageously expensive” school, especially since they often talk about equality.
Lee Cohen said, “It’s extremely frustrating to hear that Harry and Meghan, who claim to be champions of equality and social justice, are thinking about sending their children to an exclusive, very expensive school.”
Harry & Meghan branded “frauds”
Lee Cohen continued, “Their supposed commitment to equality and social justice is just a show. If they’re willing to send their kids to such an elite, extremely expensive school, they’re not really supporting equality. They’re paying tens of thousands of dollars a year for their children’s education, while many families can’t even afford basic needs.”
Cohen wrapped up by accusing Harry and Meghan of maintaining the “systems of privilege” they claim to fight against.
“Sending their kids to such a prestigious school just shows how fake their claims are. They’re upholding the very privilege they say they’re trying to challenge,” Cohen told GB News.
My 4-Year-Old Son Was Distressed Every Time My MIL Babysat – When I Discovered the Reason, I Got Revenge
Working as a nurse, Zoe often relied on her mother-in-law, Denise, to babysit Leo, her son. But when the little boy becomes visibly shaken by his grandmother’s presence, Zoe has to question the old woman’s actions, only to discover that Denise has a hidden agenda.
I had always thought that my mother-in-law, Denise, was a little overbearing, but I chalked it up to her just being protective of my son, her only grandson, Leo.
She was one of those women who carried herself with a certain authority that made you straighten your back and rethink your words. This had become more pronounced when Jeremy, her husband, passed away a few years ago, allowing Denise to reclaim her role as head librarian of the local library.
“Why shouldn’t I?” she asked Andrew, my husband, one day. “I have time now, so there’s no need to just have my part-time role there. And I can have my book club meetings at the library, too.”
“Okay, Mom,” Andrew said. “You do whatever you want.”
She wasn’t mean, exactly, but Denise had a way of making you feel small without even trying. But still, she lived two roads away and was always willing to babysit Leo whenever I had a shift at the hospital, and considering Andrew’s unpredictable hours at the law firm, Denise usually had to step in often.
“It’s what grandmothers are for, right, Zoe?” she would say whenever I asked her to come over.
And despite how her moods could shift without a moment’s notice, she was reliable and didn’t complain about it once.
But lately, Leo had been acting strange whenever Denise came over. At first, it was small things. He would cling to my leg a little longer than usual when I tried to leave or hide behind the couch when he heard her car pull up in the driveway.
I thought that my son was just going through a phase, or maybe even a bit of separation anxiety. I had seen it all the time with the kids in my ward, especially when they woke up and their parents weren’t in sight.
But then, last week, right before I was about to leave for a night shift, he started crying.
“I don’t want Grandma to stay with me!” he blurted.
Big, fat tears rolled down his cheeks, and he clutched my scrub with a grip that seemed stronger than a grown man’s.
I knelt beside him, brushing a lock of his blonde hair from his forehead.
“But why, sweetheart?” I asked gently. “Grandma loves you. And she always brings you treats. Remember the brownies and ice cream from last week?”
My son’s eyes darted to the doorway as if expecting her to walk in at any moment.
“Because… Grandma acts strange,” he said, his eyes wide.
I was about to press him further because I needed to know what was going on. But moments later, Denise’s familiar, clipped footsteps echoed down the hallway. Leo bolted off to his room.
“What’s going on?” Denise asked as she set her purse down on the hallway table. “Where’s my grandbaby?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “He ran to his room to play with his toys. Andrew is away for the next two days. He’s meeting with a client and running through a case.”
Denise nodded.
I left for work, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled in my stomach. I spent the entire night running between patients and thinking about Leo’s words.
“Grandma acts strange.”
What did that even mean to a four-year-old?
When I got home the next morning, I found my son sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the TV. His favorite cartoons were playing, but he wasn’t watching them. Instead, his eyes were red and puffy, like he had been crying all night.
“Leo?” I said slowly. “Did you sleep at all?”
He shook his head.
“No, Mommy,” he said. “I stayed up. I didn’t want to sleep.”
“Why not?” I asked, even though I could already feel my heart sinking.
I pulled one of the blankets under the coffee table and wrapped Leo in it, hoping if he felt safer, he would talk.
“Because Grandma scares me,” he said, his hands clutching his teddy bear tightly.
I felt a wave of panic wash over me.
“Scares you? What happened, honey? What did Grandma say or do?”
“She keeps trying to put something into my mouth,” he said. “She chases me with it, and it’s scary.”
“What is she trying to put into your mouth, sweetheart?” I asked, my voice tight as I strained to show my emotions.
Leo hesitated.
“Cotton buds,” he said. “You know, what you clean my ears with? She said that she wants to put my spit in the tube. I don’t like it. I don’t want it.”
My blood ran cold. Ever since Leo’s accident a few months ago, where he fell off his bike and landed himself with a broken arm, he’s been terrified of doctors, needles, and anything that reminded him of his time in the hospital.
The thought of Denise running around the house with a cotton swab and a test tube made my blood boil. Why was she trying to get my son to take a DNA test?
“Where’s Grandma?” I asked Leo.
“In the guest room,” he said.
I marched to the guest room and found Denise sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the screaming match that was about to come. Without hesitation, I shook her awake.
“Wake up, we need to talk,” I said.
“What’s going on?” she asked, blinking away her sleep.
“Leo just told me that you’ve been trying to swab his mouth for a test? Why are you traumatizing my son? Why do you want him to have a DNA test?” I demanded.
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked like she was going to deny it.
“I’m sorry,” she said, sitting up. “I didn’t mean to frighten Leo. I’ve just been wondering about something…”
“What? What would possibly be so important that you’d do this behind my back?”
“His hair,” she said simply. “Nobody has had blonde hair like that.”
“You think that my son isn’t Andrew’s because of his hair color?” I asked.
“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s been gnawing at me. I just needed to know, but I didn’t want to accuse you…”
“I can’t believe that you would go to such lengths, Denise.”
“I didn’t know what to think. I’m sorry, Zoe,” she said.
“Please leave, Denise,” I said. “I need time to process this. And I need to focus on Leo.”
She nodded, looking defeated.
Over the next week, things were tense between Andrew and me. While she drove home on the day of the confrontation, she had phoned Andrew and told him everything, firmly securing some seeds of doubt.
“I think we should do the test,” he quietly said one day, not meeting my eyes.
I stared at him, hurt.
“You really think that’s necessary? You believe what your mother is implying?”
“It’s not that I believe it,” he said. “But if we do the test, we can put this all to rest. No more doubts, no more accusations. What if Leo was switched at birth?”
“I had a home birth!” I exclaimed. “You would have remembered if you were here and not in court.”
I sighed.
“Alright,” I said after a moment. “I’ll do the test for Leo, but on one condition.”
“What condition?” he asked.
“If I’m going to do this to prove our son is yours, then you’re going to do a test too. To prove that your father is really your father. Denise needs to know what this feels like.”
Andrew’s eyes widened, shock registering on his face from my request. “What? Why would you even suggest that?”
I could feel his brain overthinking it, but I also knew that he was trying to view the situation from my point of view.
I leaned forward, my voice firm, “Because your mother is the one who’s throwing accusations around. If she’s so obsessed with bloodlines, then maybe she should be sure of her own. So, if you want me to take a test, then you’re going to take one too.”
Andrew hesitated, clearly taken aback by my demand. But after a moment, he nodded. “Okay. If that’s what it takes, I’ll do it.”
A few days later, the test results came back. As expected, the test confirmed that Leo was indeed Andrew’s son.
But there was also another revelation that nobody saw coming.
It turned out that the test results for Andrew showed that his biological father wasn’t the man he had called Dad his entire life.
“What the hell, Zoe?” he said out loud.
“This is a conversation for you and your mother,” I said offhandedly.
As much as I wanted to know the truth and to know about Leo’s biological grandfather, I didn’t want to get caught up in Denise’s drama any further. No, thank you. I had a son to focus on. And there was just something about how Denise acted that I wasn’t going to forgive soon.
But eventually, my curiosity gave in and I asked Andrew about his conversation with his mother. It turned out that she had an affair in her youth, resulting in Andrew.
“She said that she had always suspected it, but she didn’t dare do a DNA test while my father was alive. Just imagine, I’ve gone my entire life thinking that my father was just that, my father. But he wasn’t, not biologically. I can’t forgive her, Zoe.”
My heart broke for him.
“So, what does this mean?” I asked.
“It means that we take our time and space away from my mother. And we focus on our son. She’s the one who betrayed our family. Not us,” he said.
I nodded, ready to move on and focus on our family.
Apparently, Denise’s guilt had eaten away at her for decades, leading her to project her insecurities onto me and our son.
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you |
My MIL Intentionally Sent Me Faded Flowers for My Birthday with a Nasty Note
Emily has always had issues with Denise, her mother-in-law. But when her birthday rolls around and her husband, Evan, has to go away on a business trip, Emily is left to entertain herself. Denise, on the other hand, takes matters into her own hands and gives her daughter-in-law a horrible birthday gift.
I know we all have problematic mother-in-law stories, but my goodness. I’ve been dealing with Denise for well over five years now. My husband, Evan, and I come from very different backgrounds, which were the first ingredients for a disaster.
Evan grew up in an affluent suburb, while I was raised by a single mom in a rough neighborhood where clothing was stolen straight off the line.
And to make it even worse for Denise? I’m a mixed-race woman, which Denise always looked down on.
“You definitely get your hair from your mother, then,” she would say to annoy me.
Despite Evan’s love and constant defense of me, Denise never missed a chance to remind him that he could’ve done better.
“I’ll bet you a spa day, Emily,” Evan told me one day as we were driving to his mother’s house for dinner. “She’s going to mention something about an ex-girlfriend or about me having done better.”
“You’re on,” I said.
Naturally, he was correct because not even fifteen minutes into the dinner, Denise was talking about an ex.
Read the full story here.
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