Meghan Markle has shared a rare glimpse into her family life to mark Prince Archie’s seventh birthday. Archie, the eldest child of Meghan and Prince Harry, was born in May 2019, with the couple later welcoming their daughter, Princess Lilibet, now 4, in June 2021. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have largely kept their children away from the public eye since relocating to California.The Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram on May 6 to celebrate her eldest child’s milestone, posting two photos that offered an unusually personal look at the Sussex family.“7 years later… happy birthday to our sweet boy,” Meghan captioned the post.
A newborn throwback and a sweet sibling moment
The first image is a previously unseen throwback showing Harry cradling a newborn Archie on the couch, the baby fast asleep on his chest and wrapped in a blanket. The second, more recent photo captures Archie and Lilibet walking side by side along a beach near their Montecito home, with Archie holding a walking stick and both children’s red hair catching the light.The post marks one of the few times Meghan has shared images of her children publicly. Since rejoining Instagram in 2025, she has begun offering occasional glimpses of Archie and Lilibet on both her personal and ‘As Ever’ brand pages, though the couple continues to keep their children largely out of the spotlight.
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s famous red hair
One detail fans were quick to notice in the birthday photos was the children’s striking red hair, a trait both Archie and Lilibet have inherited from their father. Harry has previously spoken about where the ginger gene comes from, crediting his mother Princess Diana’s side of the family.“Definitely my mum. The ginger gene is a strong one!” Harry said during a 2023 appearance on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, adding, “The Spencer gene is very, very strong.”He also admitted he had not expected the gene to carry through. “I actually really, genuinely thought at the beginning of my relationship with Meghan that should this go the distance and we have kids that there’s no way the ginger gene will stand up to my wife’s genes, but I was wrong. Go gingers,” he said.
Life in Montecito and ‘day dates’ with Prince Archie
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Harry have been raising their children in Montecito, California, with Meghan previously describing their goal of creating a sense of normalcy for the family. She told the outlet that once people get to know them, they want the same ordinary experiences as any other parents.That everyday family life, she has shared, includes regular one-on-one time with Archie. “Archie and I like to go and have lunch, share a burger and a Caesar salad, and have an ice cream sundae with two cherries on top,” she said.As Archie turns seven, the birthday post serves as a reminder of just how much the Sussex family has grown since those early newborn days, and how deliberately Meghan and Harry have chosen to raise their children away from the glare of public life.
