As Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet grow up, royal experts are raising concerns about the emotional challenges they may face in the future, particularly when it comes to their relationship with their extended family. Growing up in the United States, far from the UK, the young children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had limited interactions with their royal relatives. While Archie, now six, was born in London in 2019, he only met his royal family a handful of times before his parents moved to California in 2020, after stepping down from royal duties. Princess Lilibet, born in 2021, has reportedly met her grandfather, King Charles III, just once, during the Sussex family’s visit to the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
Royal historian Hugo Vickers has expressed concern for the emotional impact this may have on the children as they grow older. In an interview with The Sun, Vickers highlighted that there will come a point when Archie and Lilibet may wonder why they haven’t had the chance to meet their grandfathers on either side. “I worry about the children because there’s going to come a point when they’re going to say, why haven’t I met my grandfather on either side?” Vickers said. He went on to explain that Harry may be unintentionally setting up “emotional problems” for his children, as the lack of a relationship with their grandfathers could be confusing or painful for them.
Vickers also speculated that as they grow up, the children might struggle with being used as a tool for publicity, with their backs frequently photographed but rarely seen interacting with their extended family. He pointed out that if the children discovered that their cousin, Prince George, is in line to the throne, they might naturally feel curious and eager to get to know him, but the distance between them and the royal family could create a sense of isolation. “One day, as they grow up, they’re going to get irritated by having had the backs of their heads photographed and used for promotion, and never having met their grandfathers, either side,” he said.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Meghan Markle’s estranged relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, further complicates the issue. It’s believed that neither Archie nor Lilibet have met Thomas Markle, as Meghan has been publicly estranged from her father since her wedding in 2018. This has only added to the emotional weight surrounding the children’s familial connections.
Earlier this year, there was a glimmer of hope for a reconciliation between Prince Harry and his father, King Charles III, when the two shared a private tea at Clarence House during Harry’s brief visit to the UK. This meeting was seen as a potential step towards healing their strained relationship. Vickers, however, believes that for any real reconciliation to take place, it should be Prince Harry who extends the olive branch. Given the emotional baggage Harry is believed to carry from his royal experiences, Vickers suggested that it is Harry who should take the initiative to mend the rift, rather than waiting for the monarchy to apologize first.
The ongoing tension between Harry, Meghan, and the royal family, fueled in part by their interviews and docuseries that revealed difficult details about their experiences, has added strain to their relationships. Despite the hopeful moments like the private meeting between father and son, the rift remains deep, and the question of whether Harry will be able to repair his bond with his family — and whether it will be enough to provide emotional healing for his children — remains to be seen.
As Archie and Lilibet continue to grow, the complex web of royal connections and the emotional toll of their parents’ decisions will likely play a significant role in their understanding of their family dynamics and their place within the royal fold. Whether they will ever have the opportunity to fully connect with their extended family or understand the reasons behind their limited interactions remains an open question, one that could shape their experiences of family and legacy for years to come.
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