Prince Harry wanted to give Archie a different life, royal expert Katie Nicholl has said, with the Duke of Sussex most likely factored in his wellbeing when he and Meghan Markle were considering relocating abroad. She said: “A big reason for wanting to leave Britain, I think certainly for Prince Harry, was wanting to shelter and protect Archie.”
The Duke, Ms Nicholl said, doesn’t want Archie’s personal milestones and private moment to be scrutinised by the public eye.
She told ET Online: “He didn’t want Archie growing up in the glare of the spotlight as he did when he was a little boy”.
Much like Prince William, Prince Harry’s childhood was photographed and seen by millions of people via the media.
The two young royals were photographed playing at Kensington Palace or in the garden with Princess Diana.
Their first days of school were also reported for the public to enjoy, as well as most church service they attended or holidays with their parents.
Their grief following the untimely death of the Princess of Wales was also witnessed by millions of people.
Prince William and Prince Harry’s return to London from Balmoral in September 1997 was imprinted on camera as well as their walk behind the hearse at Diana’s funeral.
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Prince Harry and Meghan announced their intention to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and live between the UK and North America in January last year.
In their bombshell statement, the couple acknowledged they thought about the wellbeing of their son while planning to balance their lives across the two sides of the pond.
They said: “We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.
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“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity.”
Prince Harry and Meghan, Ms Nicholl added, want their son to grow up “surrounded by nature”, something he can do in California.
She said: “In California, they have freedom, they have space.
“I know that they want Archie surrounded by nature.”
Prince Harry himself spoke about his son enjoying fresh air despite the lockdown.
In a video call with players of the Rugby Football League of which he is the patron, Prince Harry said: “What I need is a few mini rugby balls that I can then get Archie involved with the game, because at the moment it’s impossible to find any.
“But I’ve got a little space outside, which I’m fortunate enough to have so I need to get him playing some Rugby League.”
Referring to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, he added: “I’m just unbelievably fortunate and grateful to have outdoor space and see my son be able to be outside, because I know so many people just haven’t had that opportunity in the last five months.
“Our little man is our number one priority but our work after that is the second priority and we’re just trying to do everything we can to do our part to make the world a better place.”
Meghan and Harry moved into their new home in Montecito, Santa Barbara, in early July.
But the family-of-three had arrived in California months earlier, at the end of March, and temporarily stayed for a few months at producer Tyler Perry’s house.
The Sussexes released a video of Archie reading a book with Meghan on his first birthday, as part of the Save the Children’s initiative Save With Stories.
Their fans enjoyed a glimpse of the little Sussex ahead of Christmas, when Meghan and Harry released an artistic rendition of a picture featuring little Archie just outside a playhouse with his parents.
Archie’s voice briefly featured in the Archewell Audio’s holiday special released in late December, when the toddler was prompted by his parents to wish the audience a happy new year.
