Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Lied to the Press About Archie's Birth to Protect Him from the Paparazzi
According to royal historian Robert Lacey, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle refused to present Archie to the public after his birth to avoid the paparazzi.
- When it came to welcoming their first child, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle weren't afraid to go against royal tradition.
- The couple kept Archie's birth a secret, not even releasing a public announcement that Meghan was in labor until after she and Harry were already safely home with their newborn.
- According to royal historian and biographer Robert Lacey, the couple's decision was related to how Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, died in 1997.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (opens in new tab) have made a point of doing things their own way and that definitely included how they handled the birth of their son, Archie Harrison.
In his new book, Battle of Brothers: William and Harry – The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult (opens in new tab), royal historian and biographer Robert Lacey explains that Harry and Meghan were less-than-honest with the press (and, by extension, the masses of royal fans around the world) when it came to announcing Archie's arrival (opens in new tab).
Even though Archie was born at 5:26 in the morning on May 6, 2019, the Palace didn't announce anything about the birth until 2 p.m. that afternoon. What's more, when the Palace did make an announcement (opens in new tab), it was a misleading statement that implied Meghan had just gone into labor, when in reality, she and Harry were already home with Archie by that time.
The decision famously angered Harry's older brother, Prince William (opens in new tab), who had followed the longstanding royal tradition of presenting each of his children to the public within hours of their births (opens in new tab). Harry and Meghan made a conscious choice to buck that tradition though. According to Lacey, their strong demand for privacy had to do with Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.
"Harry and Meghan were resolute that their newborn baby's first sight of the world should not be the same insane and lethal camera-flashing that had attended — had actually brought about — the death of Diana," Lacey writes in the book.
Honestly, as reasons to eschew a longstanding family tradition go, that's definitely a good one.
RELATED STORIES
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Princess Kate Is a "Textbook Capricorn," Astrologer Says
Can relate.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Royals Probably "Laughed" About Kim Kardashian Buying Princess Diana's Necklace, Expert Claims
It's probably not a big deal to them.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are Likely "Shocked" by the "Negative Pushback" Over 'Spare,' Royal Expert Says
They thought it would be more like the aftermath of Oprah.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Diana Didn't Want to Move Away From England, Her Former Butler Claims
Obviously, we can't ever really know the truth.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
King Charles Will Not Hold "Peace Talks" With Harry and Meghan Before the Coronation, Royal Expert Claims
Oh.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Diana's Butler Responds to Prince Harry Referring to Him as "The Butler" in 'Spare'
Paul Burrell says he's confused and hurt.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Princess Eugenie's New Baby Will Allow the Royal Family to "Put Behind Them a Year of Sorrow and Conflict," Astrologer Says
All good things!
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Prince Harry "Should Have Been Prince William's Wingman," Has Become His "Hitman" Instead, Royal Expert Says
That doesn't sound good.
By Iris Goldsztajn