Prince Harry's children occupy a space in the public imagination that is, frankly, unlike any other royal descendants in history. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor aren't just names on a lineage chart; they are the physical manifestation of a massive, era-defining shift in how the British Monarchy functions in a globalized, digital world. Born into the highest echelons of British nobility but raised under the bright, often unforgiving sun of Montecito, California, these kids are growing up in a hybrid reality. It’s a bit of a paradox, isn't it? They hold titles—Prince and Princess—yet their daily lives are likely closer to those of high-end California toddlers than the structured, protocol-heavy existence of their cousins, George, Charlotte, and Louis, back in London.
People get really hung up on the titles. Honestly, the drama surrounding whether or not they’d be called Prince and Princess took up way too much oxygen in the press for a while. When Archie was born in 2019, he didn't immediately have a title. It wasn't some snub from the late Queen Elizabeth II, though many fans thought so. It was actually just the result of a century-old rule established by King George V in 1917. That rule, the Letters Patent, basically said that only the grandchildren of the monarch in the male line get the HRH status. Since Harry was the son of the Prince of Wales (not the King yet), Archie was a great-grandchild. He wasn't eligible until his grandfather, Charles, took the throne in 2022.
The lifestyle of Prince Harry's children is defined by privacy. It's almost an obsession for Harry and Meghan, and given Harry's history with the paparazzi, you can't really blame the guy. While the UK public is used to seeing "first day of school" photos of the Wales children, we rarely get that with Archie and Lili. We see glimpses. A grainy shot in a Netflix docuseries. A black-and-white birthday portrait. A candid moment of Archie feeding chickens in a backyard. This intentional "ghosting" of the traditional royal media cycle has created a massive vacuum that gets filled with speculation, some of it wild and most of it totally baseless.
The Reality of Growing Up Royal in California
Archie was born at the Portland Hospital in London on May 6, 2019. He was a "royal" baby for less than a year before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their exit from frontline duties. Lilibet Diana, born June 4, 2021, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, has never known the UK as a primary home. Think about that for a second. One child has faint memories of frogmore cottage, while the other is a Californian through and through.
The language they use, the food they eat, even the way they perceive "Grandpa Wales" (King Charles) is filtered through FaceTime and infrequent transatlantic flights. It’s a long-distance relationship with an institution that defines their very names.
The kids are growing up in an environment where "service" looks different. In London, service is ribbon-cutting and balcony appearances. In Montecito, Harry and Meghan have tried to frame it through their Archewell Foundation. It’s a different kind of public life. Archie and Lili are likely to grow up seeing their parents as activists and media producers rather than working royals. It's a seismic shift.
Prince Archie and the Weight of the Name
Archie’s name was a bit of a curveball. Most royal watchers expected something traditional—Arthur, James, maybe Philip. Instead, we got Archie. It felt modern. It felt like a signal that Harry and Meghan were going to do things their own way. His middle name, Harrison, literally means "son of Harry." Simple. Direct.
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But his life hasn't been simple. Being the first biracial child born into the immediate British Royal Family in modern history came with a level of scrutiny that was, at times, ugly. The Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021 revealed some of the internal friction regarding his skin tone before he was even born. Regardless of where you stand on the Sussex-Windsor divide, that's a heavy mantle for a child to eventually inherit. He represents a bridge between cultures and a point of contention within a 1,000-year-old institution.
He’s reportedly a big brother who takes the role seriously. In various interviews, Harry has described Archie as "chatty" and "curious." He’s a kid who likes to play outside, which is a staple of the lifestyle his parents sought out by moving to the Santa Ynez Mountains. They have dogs, space to run, and a level of anonymity that simply doesn't exist for royals in the UK.
Princess Lilibet: A Name Rooted in History
Lilibet's name is a direct bridge to Harry's past. "Lilibet" was the late Queen's childhood nickname, used only by her closest family members, like her father King George VI and her husband Prince Philip. Choosing that name was a bold move. Some saw it as a beautiful tribute; others in the UK press criticized it as an overstep.
Then you have "Diana" as the middle name. That was a given. There was no way Harry wasn't going to honor his mother.
Lili is the first senior royal to be born in the United States. That’s a "Jeopardy!" fact for the ages. She’s an American citizen by birth and a British citizen by descent. She holds a place in the line of succession (currently seventh) while growing up in a country that fought a war to get away from the British Crown. The irony is delicious.
Titles, Succession, and the Future
There was a lot of confusion when the titles "Prince" and "Princess" finally appeared on the Royal Family's official website in early 2023. This happened after Lili’s christening in California. A lot of people thought Harry and Meghan were being hypocritical—leaving the "Firm" but keeping the bells and whistles for their kids.
But looking at it from Harry’s perspective, it’s about birthright. He’s been vocal about wanting his children to have the choice. If they have the titles now, they can choose to use them or drop them when they turn 18. If they never had them, that door might have been closed forever. It’s also a matter of security. In the royal world, titles often dictate the level of protection a person receives, though that has been a point of legal contention for Harry for years.
The line of succession currently looks like this:
- Prince William
- Prince George
- Princess Charlotte
- Prince Louis
- Prince Harry
- Prince Archie
- Princess Lilibet
Even though they are thousands of miles away, they are heartbeat away from the throne. It’s a slim chance, but it’s there. This reality ensures they will always be "persons of interest" to international intelligence and security agencies, whether they like it or not.
A Different Kind of Education
While George, Charlotte, and Louis attend Lambrook School in Berkshire—a school with a very specific, high-society British curriculum—Archie and Lili are on a different track. The California education system, especially in affluent areas like Montecito, focuses heavily on "the whole child." Think emotional intelligence, outdoor learning, and maybe a bit less of the "stiff upper lip" mentality.
Meghan has mentioned in interviews (like with The Cut) that she wants Archie to learn manners and "the palm tree" lesson—that they are two halves of a whole, always together. It’s a very "West Coast" approach to parenting. It’s holistic. It’s intentional. It’s a far cry from the nursery traditions of the palace where nannies often spend more time with the children than the parents do, although Harry and Meghan do have help.
Common Misconceptions About the Sussex Children
One of the biggest myths is that Archie and Lili have no relationship with the King. While it's true they don't see him often, Harry has mentioned that they do video calls. Charles reportedly met Lili for the first time during the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, a moment described by palace sources as "very emotional."
Another misconception is that they will eventually be "celebrities" like the Kardashians. There’s a distinction. Being a royal in America is a weird gray area. They aren't reality stars; they are historical figures by default. Their parents are trying to pivot them toward a life of "purpose-driven" work. Whether that sticks as they hit their teenage years is anyone's guess. California has a way of turning everyone into a bit of a celebrity if they have a famous last name.
The idea that they are "hidden" away is also a bit of an exaggeration. They go to birthday parties. They go to the beach. They just aren't photographed because California has much stricter anti-paparazzi laws (specifically regarding children of famous people) than the UK does. If a photographer uses a long lens to snap a photo of a child in a private backyard in Cali, they can face serious legal heat. Harry has used these laws to his advantage to give his kids the "normal" life he feels he never had.
Actionable Insights for Royal Watchers
If you're trying to keep up with the lives of Prince Harry's children without falling for the tabloid bait, here’s how to navigate the noise:
- Check the Source: If a "palace insider" is talking about Archie's favorite toy, take it with a grain of salt. Harry and Meghan's circle is notoriously tight. Real news usually comes through the Archewell website or verified interviews.
- Understand the Law: Recognizing that UK and US press laws are different helps explain why we see so much of the Wales children and so little of the Sussex children. It's not necessarily a lack of interest; it's a legal barrier.
- Succession is Fixed: No matter the family drama, Archie and Lili’s place in the line of succession is set by Parliament. It doesn't change unless the law changes, regardless of where they live or what their parents say on TV.
- Look for the "Why": When the Sussexes do release a photo, it's usually tied to a cause or a specific milestone. They use their children's images as a form of communication, not just "content."
The lives of Archie and Lili will continue to be a fascinating case study in modern royalty. They are the first of their kind—truly "Global Royals" who belong to two different worlds but are currently rooted in only one. As they grow up, the tension between their California upbringing and their British heritage will likely become a story they tell themselves, in their own words, away from the glare of their parents' shadows.
Essentially, they’re just kids. They’re kids who happen to have a King for a grandfather and a mother who was a TV star. They play, they learn, and they probably have no idea that their existence is a subject of debate in the British Parliament or on the front pages of the Daily Mail. And honestly? That’s probably exactly how Harry wants it.
Next Steps for Readers
To stay accurately informed on the status of Prince Harry's children, you should monitor official updates from the Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex or the official Royal Family website. These are the only places where title changes, line of succession updates, and official biographical details are verified. Avoid "expert" commentary that relies on anonymous quotes, as these are frequently debunked by the family's legal representatives. Understanding the 1917 Letters Patent and the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 provides the necessary legal context to see through rumors regarding their royal status.