Many people believe family is the most important thing in the world, but even the closest families can face challenges that change everything. For the royal family, that happened when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to leave the UK for a new life in the US. Now, they’re raising their children, Archie and Lilibet, far away from the rest of the royal family, including Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Archie and Lilibet are growing up without much connection to their UK relatives. They hardly know their cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Their grandfather, King Charles, has only seen his grandchildren a handful of times.
Harry and Meghan have almost completely cut ties with the royals. Although there have been talks about Harry looking for a permanent UK home, the Sussexes are reportedly afraid of bringing their children to the UK. Kate and William have invited Harry, Meghan, and their children to visit, but a royal expert revealed that the relationship between William, Kate, and the Sussex children is strained.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to the US to live a more private life, away from the paparazzi and the pressures of the monarchy. It’s said that the couple knew “within days” of their wedding that they didn’t want to stay in the royal family long-term.
Archie & Lilibet
When Archie was born in 2019, the Sussexes were already stepping back from public life, trying to avoid being used as “marionette puppets” for fans and the media. In her book The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown, royal expert Katie Nicholl described Harry as “almost morbidly obsessed” with keeping Archie’s birth a secret, which is unusual for royal births.
Lilibet’s birth in June 2021 in California was different; there were no paparazzi. However, it wasn’t long before Harry and Meghan brought their kids back into the spotlight. Two years after Lilibet’s birth, the Sussexes announced that their children had been given prince and princess titles. While Harry and Meghan claim these titles are their children’s birthright, not everyone agrees.
Royal expert Angela Levin believes this decision could negatively impact Archie and Lilibet’s futures. “It will take a long time for little Lilibet to realize the extent of the burden her parents have placed on her young shoulders,” Levin said. By giving their daughter an official royal title, Harry and Meghan have now “glued her to the British Royal Family,” the same establishment they have criticized for years.
Levin asked, “Why on earth would you want your daughter to experience such anguish?” She explained that Lilibet’s everyday life might be more challenging with the title of princess attached to her name.
King Charles to Visit His Grandchildren?
Archie celebrated his fifth birthday in May, and Lilibet turned three in early June. King Charles has met Archie only five times and Lilibet just once. He is reportedly “heartbroken” over the lack of relationship with his grandchildren, but royal expert Tom Quinn suggests that Charles might change that.
Quinn told the Mirror that Charles “has had discussions” about traveling to America to visit Harry and his family “at some time in the future.” Quinn added, “There is no doubt if it goes ahead he would build in time to visit his youngest son and his grandchildren, but there are mountains of planning to be overcome before that becomes even a remote possibility.”
Relationship expert Louella Alderson told the Mirror that a visit from King Charles would be a “significant gesture” to mend his relationship with Harry and Meghan. However, logistical challenges and Charles’s royal obligations and health issues make such a trip complicated.
Meghan ‘Declined’ William & Kate’s UK Invite
While Charles may attempt to mend his relationship with his estranged son, other royal family members might be less interested. Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly have no contact with Harry and Meghan. According to Tom Quinn, William and Kate urged Harry and Meghan to bring their children to the UK for a visit, but Meghan refused.
“There is no way Meghan would bring the children to the UK,” Quinn said. “William and Kate have suggested that Meghan and Harry bring the children and that the two couples and their families try to make up, but the suggestion is not leading anywhere so far.”
Harry and Meghan have not brought their children to the UK during their few visits. A source told OK! that Meghan fears for her children’s safety. “Meghan doesn’t want to come to the UK with the children. She just doesn’t feel safe,” the source said. “Harry doesn’t want to keep making solo trips to the UK. He would prefer it if the entire family made regular visits to see his family and build bridges, but there is so much going on behind the scenes that it just isn’t possible at the moment.”
William & Kate Have No Relationship with Archie and Lilibet
Royal correspondent Cameron Walker told GB News that William and Harry have “very, very limited” contact, which has also affected William and Kate’s relationship with Archie and Lilibet. “The feud runs deep, and it’s getting to the point where every time you ask a question about Prince Harry to anybody close to Prince William, the barriers go up,” Cameron said.
GB News’ royal editor Svar Nanan-Sen added, “William and Kate don’t have any relationship with Archie and Lilibet either. King Charles has only met Lilibet once – the same probably goes for William and Kate. Archie and Lilibet have no relationship with George, Charlotte, and Louis – and they’re cousins. This feud between Harry, William, Kate, and Meghan is creating a rift that is crossing generations.”
“It’s really sad to see,” Cameron concluded. “George, Charlotte, and Louis are not going to have that connection with their two cousins, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. It’s really sad to see, and it’s not their fault.”
Schooling and Criticism
Archie and Lilibet are growing up fast. They will likely attend school in fashionable Montecito, California, where they live. Journalist Richard Mineards revealed that Harry and Meghan have been eyeing a local private school with fees ranging from $60,000 to $50,000 plus for older grades.
US-based journalist Lee Cohen criticized Harry and Meghan for considering such an expensive school, calling them “frauds.” In an interview with GB News, Cohen said, “It’s utterly infuriating to hear that Harry and Meghan, the self-proclaimed champions of equality and social justice, are even contemplating enrolling their children in an exclusive, outrageously expensive school. Their supposed commitment to progressive causes is nothing but a facade.”
Cohen added, “If they’re willing to indulge in this epitome of elitism, there is no advocating for equality. How can they justify this when so many families struggle to afford even the basic necessities? Sending their children to such a prestigious institution exposes the frauds that Harry and Meghan are.”
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