Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from their royal positions in 2020 and moved to the US to build a new life there. Their son, Prince Archie, was only a few months old when the couple decided to make that move. As the Prince is now growing up, it is understood that he’s getting more curious about his birthplace and his grandfather ‘who lives in a castle.’
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Prince Archie wants to visit his grandfather in the UK, but there’s a catch
Ever since the move to the US, Prince Harry’s kids haven’t visited their royal lineage much. Amidst the title drama for the Sussex kids and Prince Harry’s security battle with the home office, there have been rumours about the Sussex children visiting the UK every year. Sadly, that hasn’t been the case.
Archie - who recently turned 5 - is apparently ‘desperate to visit the UK’ and wishes to visit his grandfather 'who lives in a castle'. However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are mindful of executing this wish for their son or even encouraging him to learn about his royal lineage. According to royal expert Tom Quinn, the Sussex couple is ‘worried’ that the UK would become a ‘longed-for fantasy’ for Archie. He told the Mirror:
Archie loves the idea that his grandad lives in a castle and Meghan was worried that a magnificent shepherd's hut or similar extravagant present will only increase Archie's growing interest in his royal connections.
She doesn't want Britain to become a longed-for fantasy for her son so she had been pushing Harry to insist that his father gets Archie a simple present.
But the path to keep Prince Archie away from his royal lineage may not be as smooth as the couple may wish for - thanks to King Charles’ constant effort to be in his life. Tom claims that the monarch is ‘desperate to show he cares and he wants to be an indulgent grandparent.’ He alleges that the grandfather-grandson duo misses each other and would really like to see each other soon. Tom explained:
Archie really misses him. Many of Archie's books are about kings, princesses and castles and he knows enough to know that his grandfather lives in a castle.
He is apparently desperate to come to the UK with his father, but Meghan and Harry don't want to encourage this.
When was the last time Prince Archie was in the UK?
The Sussex children visited the UK last in June 2022 marking Princess Lilibet’s first and only visit to the country ever. While London is Prince Archie’s birthplace, Princess Lilibet was born in Santa Barbara.
Their last visit to the UK coincided with Lilibet’s first birthday - which the Sussex family celebrated at their former UK residence Frogmore Cottage, confirms Hello! Magazine. The visit was the last time King Charles met Prince Harry’s children as the couple has not brought them to the UK ever since. Claims about them returning for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral circulated heavily but security issues and the fears of the Sussex couple refrained the kids from returning to the UK.
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Sources Used
Mirror: Prince Archie 'desperate' to visit UK with dad but Meghan and Harry 'don't want to encourage it'
Hello! Magazine: Inside Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's last visit to the UK
