Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Parenting Style While Raising Son Archie and Daughter Lilibet

Credit: TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Parenting Style While Raising Son Archie and Daughter Lilibet

Raising him right! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a distinct parenting style while bringing up their baby boy, Archie. The couple welcomed their son in May 2019 and have previously spoken about their desire to have children. “I, of course, would love to have kids,” the former military pilot said during an April 2017 appearance on The Telegraph’s “Mad World” podcast. “I’m a godfather to quite a few of my friends’ kids … Actually only five or six. I’d like to think [I’m a good godfather].” He added, “But I think the key to that is growing up, but also to be able to stay in touch with your childhood side. If that means going to someone’s house and sitting there and playing PlayStation and kicking the ass of their son on whatever it is, then I’ll try and do that. I’ve actually had a lot of practice for that.” As for the Suits alum, she gushed about becoming a mom in 2016. “I also dream to have a family,” she told Lifestyle magazine at the time. “It’s all about balance and I have so much happiness in my career and am fortunate to travel the world and see so many amazing things,” she noted. “It will also be nice to be anchored to something grounded and in the same place. Raising a family will be a wonderful part of that.” [jwplayer eIz52ofR] The pair announced in October 2018 that they were expecting their first child together, five months after their Windsor Castle wedding in England. “He has the sweetest temperament,” the actress told members of the press after Archie arrived. “He’s really calm. He’s been the dream, so it’s been a special couple of days.” The Los Angeles native called motherhood “magic,” saying at the time: “It’s pretty amazing, and I have the two best guys in the world, so I’m really happy.” Eight months after becoming parents, Harry and Markle announced their decision to step back from their duties as senior members of the royal family. They moved to Los Angeles with their son after spending time in Canada. In June 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the birth of their second child, daughter Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, making them a family of four. “It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world,” the couple’s Archewell website announced in a statement at the time. “Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA.” The parents thanked everyone for their support and gushed over their new little one. “She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe,” the statement continued. “Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.” During a November 2021 interview on the Ellen DeGeneres show, the Suits alum explained how having two kids has become a juggling act for the couple. “When you have one kid, it's a hobby, and two children is parenting,'" Meghan told Ellen DeGeneres in November 2021. "Suddenly we realized, 'Oh, right.' Everyone talks about what it's like for the second child, but no one talks about the adjustment for the first child when the second one comes along. I think they have this moment of, 'Oh, this is fun. Oh, this how it is now.'" Keep scrolling to read about the pair’s parenting tactics while raising Archie and Lilibet, from keeping them comfortable during royal engagements to shielding them from negativity. [podcast_block]

Credit: TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Parenting Style While Raising Son Archie and Daughter Lilibet

Raising him right! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a distinct parenting style while bringing up their baby boy, Archie. The couple welcomed their son in May 2019 and have previously spoken about their desire to have children. “I, of course, would love to have kids,” the former military pilot said during an April 2017 appearance on The Telegraph’s “Mad World” podcast. “I’m a godfather to quite a few of my friends’ kids … Actually only five or six. I’d like to think [I’m a good godfather].” He added, “But I think the key to that is growing up, but also to be able to stay in touch with your childhood side. If that means going to someone’s house and sitting there and playing PlayStation and kicking the ass of their son on whatever it is, then I’ll try and do that. I’ve actually had a lot of practice for that.” As for the Suits alum, she gushed about becoming a mom in 2016. “I also dream to have a family,” she told Lifestyle magazine at the time. “It’s all about balance and I have so much happiness in my career and am fortunate to travel the world and see so many amazing things,” she noted. “It will also be nice to be anchored to something grounded and in the same place. Raising a family will be a wonderful part of that.” [jwplayer eIz52ofR] The pair announced in October 2018 that they were expecting their first child together, five months after their Windsor Castle wedding in England. “He has the sweetest temperament,” the actress told members of the press after Archie arrived. “He’s really calm. He’s been the dream, so it’s been a special couple of days.” The Los Angeles native called motherhood “magic,” saying at the time: “It’s pretty amazing, and I have the two best guys in the world, so I’m really happy.” Eight months after becoming parents, Harry and Markle announced their decision to step back from their duties as senior members of the royal family. They moved to Los Angeles with their son after spending time in Canada. In June 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the birth of their second child, daughter Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, making them a family of four. “It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world,” the couple’s Archewell website announced in a statement at the time. “Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA.” The parents thanked everyone for their support and gushed over their new little one. “She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe,” the statement continued. “Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.” During a November 2021 interview on the Ellen DeGeneres show, the Suits alum explained how having two kids has become a juggling act for the couple. “When you have one kid, it's a hobby, and two children is parenting,'" Meghan told Ellen DeGeneres in November 2021. "Suddenly we realized, 'Oh, right.' Everyone talks about what it's like for the second child, but no one talks about the adjustment for the first child when the second one comes along. I think they have this moment of, 'Oh, this is fun. Oh, this how it is now.'" Keep scrolling to read about the pair’s parenting tactics while raising Archie and Lilibet, from keeping them comfortable during royal engagements to shielding them from negativity. [podcast_block]

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Feelings First

The new mom was "thrilled and, of course, very emotional," after her son's arrival, a source told Us Weekly exclusively in May 2019.

Credit: Courtesy of Chris Allerton/SussexRoyal/Instagram

Out of Sight

"The reason Harry and Meghan didn’t appear on the balcony when Queen [Elizabeh II] returned back to Buckingham Palace was because she was breast-feeding,” an insider told Us following Trooping of Colour in June 2019. “Meghan loved seeing all the other royal children and was doting on them.”

Credit: Domic Lipinski/PA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Nursery Nod

There's a photo of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, in Archie's nursery, a source shared in August 2019.

Credit: TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Attached at the Hip

A source told Us in September 2019: "Even though [Meghan] has an amazing nanny, she hates leaving him at home for more than a couple of days."

Credit: Courtesy of Chris Allerton/SussexRoyal/Instagram

Tough Cookie

"He’s a very strong baby,” a source told Us exclusively the following month. “He can even sit up for a few seconds.”

Credit: TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Looking Ahead

"[They] brought all his home comforts with him,” royal reporter Omid Scobie said during an October 2019 episode of "The Heir Pod" podcast during the couple's first royal tour as a family. “I heard there were a lot of toys that they brought with him. Just all the things that make him feel like he hasn’t gone anywhere, because you want to keep him comfortable the whole time. That’s why Meghan stayed with him in South Africa rather than join Harry on his travels.”

Credit: Courtesy of Sussex Royal/Instagram

Major Milestones

"He can't talk yet, but he's trying," a source shared in November 2019.

Credit: Courtesy of SussexRoyal/Instagram

Christmas Cutie

An insider told Us in December 2019: "You can tell Archie’s going to be a confident social butterfly. He loves being entertained and interacting with people. Some children get shy or nervous around new people, but not Archie. He’ll go to anyone without kicking up a fuss!”

The source added, "Archie is Meghan and Harry’s world, and they can’t help [it]. For Christmas, they bought him books, building blocks, a baby ball pit. … It’s not all about extravagant gifts for them.”

Credit: Domic Lipinski/PA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

On the Move

"Meghan takes a walk with Archie every single day through the woods,” a source told Us exclusively in March 2020. “She either pushes him in a stroller through the paved trails through the public woods by their home or straps him on and walks the more rustic routes. The walks usually last around an hour or two, but she takes them daily.”

Credit: Courtesy of Chris Allerton/SussexRoyal/Instagram

Keeping It Calm

Later that month, an insider revealed to Us, "[Harry] wants to shield his son from the negativity and tension he would’ve been exposed to back in England. [He] knows what it’s like to grow up in the spotlight, and he wants to give Archie the most normal upbringing possible.”

Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP/Shutterstock

Nature Lover

Archie "loves being outsider in nature," a source shared in March 2020.

Credit: Courtesy of Chris Allerton/SussexRoyal/Instagram

Following His Footsteps

Another insider added, "You can already tell he’s inherited [Prince] Charles' passion for nature. He gets so excited at seeing all the trees. Now that he’s just walking, he’s into everything — he’ll often end up covered in mud!”

Credit: Shutterstock

Growing Up

Archie “loves playing hide-and-seek and using building blocks,” a source told Us exclusively in June 2020, adding, “He’s saying a few words, like ‘Dada,’ ‘Mama,’ ‘book,’ and ‘dog.’”

Credit: Shutterstock

Grandma’s Little Guy

Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland, loves spending time with her grandson, “get[ting] up in the morning to read to him,” a source exclusively told Us in July 2020. She and the former actress make Archie “all-organic food” together.

Credit: Shutterstock

Changing Their Minds

The couple “were forced to let [their night] nurse go in the middle of her second night of work for being unprofessional,” authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand alleged in their August 2020 royal tell-all, Finding Freedom, which the couple did not contribute to. "The new parents went on to hire a second night nurse, who did a fine job, but because of the incident with the first nurse, neither found themselves comfortable sleeping through the night without going to check on Archie regularly. After a few weeks, they decided to take on nights themselves and went without a night nurse entirely.”

Credit: Beretta/Sims/Shutterstock

Nature Lovers

“The outdoor play area will be decked out with swings and slides, a climbing frame and a tea area for Archie and his new little pals,” a source exclusively told Us of Meghan’s renovation plans for their Montecito, California, home. “Meghan’s counting the days until Archie can start interacting with children his own age.”

Credit: MEGA

Making a Difference

In honor of Archie's 2nd birthday in May 2021, the royal couple "organized something charity-related to mark the milestone," a source exclusively revealed at the time. "They want Archie to grow up understanding the importance of giving back," the insider said as the pair set up a fundraiser for COVID-19 vaccine equity on their Archewell website.

Credit: Peter Foley/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Keeping the Legacy Alive

The pair welcomed their second child, daughter Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor to the family on June 4, 2021. 

“Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet,” Harry and Meghan wrote in a June 2021 statement on their Archewell website. "Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Finding a Balance

"Someone told H and I: 'When you have one kid, it's a hobby, and two children is parenting,'" Meghan told DeGeneres during an interview in November 2021. "Suddenly we realized, 'Oh, right.' Everyone talks about what it's like for the second child, but no one talks about the adjustment for the first child when the second one comes along. I think they have this moment of, 'Oh, this is fun. Oh, this how it is now.'"

Credit: Robin Utrecht/Shutterstock

Juggling Act

Two months prior to becoming a family of four, a source exclusively told Us how “excited” Archie was for his big brother role. His parents were “trying to give Archie all the attention he [could] handle” the insider said in April 2021, noting that the former military pilot and Fringe alum were “a little worried” about transitioning from one kid to two.

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Make the World a Better Place for His Kids

Harry told child reporters from Kinderdcorrespondent in April 2022 that he “wanted his kids to grow up in a better world,” adding, “[I want them] to grow up in a fairer world, a safer world, a more equal world.”