Prince Harry has shown many times that he’s an incredible father to his two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who received their royal titles following the passing of their great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
When Archie was born, the Sussexes were still residing in Britain. Then, in 2020, they made the decision to step down from their royal duties and leave Harry’s homeland, probably for good. They settled in Montecito, California, where their second child, Lilibet Diana, was born.
Beside holding royal titles, Harry and Meghan want to provide their children with a normal childhood, much like Prince William and Princess Catherine. The question of how possible that is, however, remains uncertain having in mind that their parents are highly visible in the public sphere.
At the time being, Harry and Meghan refuse to bring their children to the UK, which has affected the children’s relationship with their grandfather, Prince Charles, who has only seen Archie a handful of times, and Lili only once.
The reason why The Sussexes made such a decision is the lack of security while in Harry’s homeland.
When they left Britain, Harry and Meghan, as well as their children, have been stripped from the security privileges provided by the royal family because the security by the British police is tax-payers’ funded and they are not working royals any longer.
Harry challenged the Home Office over the decision to downgrade his security protection when visiting his home country. He even offered to pay for the protection, but his offer was rejected because the British police force couldn’t be hired.
The statement Harry issued regarding the security issue, read, “It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020.
“The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US. That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.”
The Duke added: “I cannot put my wife in danger like that, and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.”
Harry is still trying to find ways to reinstate his security, which would mean more flexibility when he and his family travel to the UK.
Archie and Lili are still very young to be able to accompany their parents to the trips outside of the States, but according to sources close to the family, they do plan to take the children with them on their future international engagements.
“Harry and Meghan are incredibly proud of their children, and when they are a little older and better able to travel, there is no doubt they will be taken on some of the couple’s tours,” royal expert Tom Quinn told the Mirror.
“Meghan is acutely aware of what a great look this will be, the charming royal couple with their charming royal children will attract the sort of publicity that Harry and Meghan crave, especially now that they are so determined to be billionaire entrepreneurs,” he added.
Speaking to Express, a source close to the Sussexes says the Duke and the Duchess plan on providing freedom to their children to choose their own future paths once they turn 18. However, they would love it if Archie and Lili stay engaged within the Archewell Foundation and the Invictus Games.
“Harry and Meghan are very keen to allow their children to choose their own paths,” the source told Express. “They’re very keen for them to focus on things they feel most passionate about while also supporting the family’s causes – like the Archewell Foundation and the Invictus Games.”
“There’s a conscious effort to keep the children out of the public eye as much as possible until they reach the age of 18, so they can form their own opinions and personalities.
The source added: “Once they reach the age of maturity, it’s going to be very much about what they want to do, and what they choose to support. I suppose it will be like the cool cousins abroad who can live their lives the way they wish while the Wales children will be more about duty and formality.”
As of now, when Harry is away from home, he still finds ways to stay connected with his children, who are his greatest pride and joy.
Recently, Harry took part at the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City, where he took the stage.
Before his speech, he Facetimed with Meghan, Archie, and Lili, providing them with a virtual tour of the place, 18-year-old Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang, one of the recipients of The Diana Award.
“He is just so kind-hearted. Not only was he helping us get comfortable with speaking on stage, but he comforted us after as well,” Zhang told People Magazine. “And backstage, he was actually calling Meghan. I thought that was just so sweet, and it helped humanize him. He made sure we had no nerves at all.”
Christina Williams, 27, the other recipient of the award, continued: “Here is someone who is in a high-level role, who really cares about young people, cares about our voices and our actions. They say you never want to meet your heroes, but I met someone who I admire and I am leaving the experience still maintaining that admiration, or even more admiration, to know that he really cares about the causes that he represents.”
Harry truly is a remarkable father and husband.
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