Prince Harry is celebrating his 42nd birthday on Tuesday, September 15, and wife Meghan Markle posted a special Instagram Reel to pay tribute to her husband. Along with celebrating the Duke of Sussex’s big day, the video revealed some new glimpses at the family’s life in England after they moved back to the U.K. in August—and Princess Lilibet managed to steal the show with her sweet style.

“He’s simply the best. Happy birthday, my love ❤️,” she captioned the video, which was set to a cover of Tina Turner's “Simply the Best.” In the Reel, Lilibet, 5, and big brother Prince Archie, 7, join dad Harry for some outdoor fun, but most of the photos feature the princess, including a snapshot of her wearing a headband that pays homage to one of mom Meghan’s favorite activities.

In one photo, Meghan and Lilibet ride in a golf cart as Harry leans in and gives his daughter—who is wearing a bedazzled headband—a kiss. Lili’s knotted white headband features gemstones and Mahjong tiles, and it seems she shares Meghan’s love of the classic Chinese game.

Mahjong dates back to the 1800s and has experienced a rise in popularity in the United States in recent years, with the Duchess of Sussex having regularly gathered with friends to play in California. According to Hello! magazine, Meghan is now teaching Lilibet how to play the complex tile game.

Prince Harry’s birthday video also featured glimpses at some of the family’s other hobbies, including a photo of the duke skiing with Princess Lilibet and a snap of him driving an ATV with Archie, Lilibet, and a Union-Jack themed Marks and Spencer bag in tow as their dog, Pula, runs behind.

The video comes a day after Hello! revealed that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have left their new school in England after just two days.

A spokesperson for the family shared that traffic and logistical concerns with the school made it difficult for their security team to get the kids there safely, with a representative stating, “The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements."

The children are now settling into a different school that better suits their needs, with the outlet reporting that "Prince Harry was spotted settling Lili into reception and the couple have been added to the parents' whatsapp groups."

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived in the U.K. on Wednesday, August 26, touching down in Birmingham, England via private jet as they prepare to settle into their new home with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Last week, People confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have enrolled their children in a British school and are planning to stay in the country for an extended period. But on August 25, a friend of the couple told the Daily Mail that their visit might be longer than it seems.

After news broke that Meghan is being considered for a role in Netflix’s The Gentleman, which films in Britain, many assumed that a temporary move was motivated by the duchess’s acting career. But a friend of the Sussexes told the Daily Mail that Prince Harry’s plans for family life in England are much more long-term.

“The way he sees it is that he will be here for the next 12 to 15 years, minimum,” the source said. “He sees himself as a full-time father and he will be here for them spending every Saturday watching Archie play rugby. That is the agenda.”

“Meghan has been aware of Harry’s views and discussing with him how they will bring the children up for years. It is not sudden,” the friend says of their move.

The insider added that Harry and Meghan “are the best and most committed parents” and are focused on providing Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, with the best possible education.

“There is no hankering after a royal status or royal engagements, it is not about that,” the friend shared. “He specifically doesn’t want to do that. This is about Harry wanting what is best for them and he wants them to be raised British, in Britain, and go to a public school. That is what the move is about.”

When sharing some of the potential motivations behind the Sussex family’s move this week, royal expert Rachel Bowie of PureWow told Marie Claire that education was one of the top priorities for the family.

“As any parent knows, the choice of school for our kids is not a decision that's entered into lightly,” Bowie says. “The U.K. is also world-renowned for its options. We may not yet know where Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will attend school in Britain, but we can guess that this is a decision that Harry and Meghan considered at length.”

Bowie adds that for Archie and Lilibet, attending a British school will allow the children to “better understand their modern roles within the monarchy, just as it has done for the royal family members who came before.”

Prince Harry hopes his children take something meaningful from their return to the U.K. The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle are returning to his home country., six years after stepping back from their royal duties. At the end of August, they will be relocating across the pond for an extended period with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Harry’s kids were just toddlers when they left England. Now, Archie and Lilibet are both at an age where they can attend schools in the U.K.

“It’s something Harry has been thinking about for a while,” a source said to People. “Harry never really stopped missing home. He’s missed that sense of connection and belonging. Britain is still home in many ways.”

The Duke of Sussex reportedly hopes his children will have more comprehension of his upbringing this time around. The source mentioned, “He wants them to understand the world he grew up in and where their family comes from.”

As for the Duchess of Sussex, she is in agreement, believing the children should equally experience their parents’ stomping grounds. The source shared, “Meghan feels very fortunate that they’re able to give Archie and Lilibet the opportunity to experience both worlds.”

They reportedly made plans to leave California weeks after their trip back to England, when the Sussexes reunited with King Charles and Queen Camilla. The occasion marked The King’s first meeting with his grandchildren in four years. Before their reunion, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet last saw King Charles in June 2022 during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Two years before their last meeting, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as working royals and moved across the pond. Prince Archie was only 10 months old when he moved to America; Princess Lilibet was born in California, making her the first member of the British Royal Family to be born outside of Europe.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprised royal fans when they announced their intention to move back to the U.K. immediately. Now, one of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's close friends has weighed in on the couple's decision to leave Montecito, California.

During an appearance on British TV show This Morning on August 21, author and journalist Bryony Gordon shared (via Hello! magazine), "What I understand is that they have decided to be more of an international family."

Gordon continued, "California is lovely. I've been to their house in Montecito. It's gorgeous. They're not letting go of it. It will remain somewhere that you can escape to."

As for why the Sussexes decided to move to the U.K. in 2026, the writer explained, "What I understand is that as lovely as California is, it's a long way away from lots of things."

The family's recent trip to the U.K. included spending time at Princess Diana's ancestral home, Althorp House, with her brother Earl Spencer. According to Gordon, Archie and Lilibet's positive experiences visiting England likely contributed to the family's decision to move.

"When they came in July, they had a really lovely time at Althorp…with [Harry's] uncle, Earl Spencer," Gordon said. "I think that was really lovely, and I think the kids really loved it, and I think they want to be closer to that."

When asked about the expenses required to keep homes in the U.S. and the U.K., Gordon replied, "I guess that they just have lots of money, don't they? I don't know."

The author continued, "I don't know how they're going to fund it, but what I do know is that the plan is, is that they're going to be...more international."

Basically, Meghan, Harry, Archie, and Lilibet are about to undergo a huge change when they leave Montecito to build a new life in England.

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It's been a huge week for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who revealed their plans to move their family to the U.K. immediately. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are set to make England their home again. But according to multiple reports, some of the family's pets might not be making the transatlantic trip with them.

According to Hello! magazine, "[I]t's thought that the dogs will come with them." However, "the chickens are unlikely to be crossing the Atlantic." Royal fans can rest easy though as, according to the outlet, "this doesn't mean that the birds will be gotten rid of, as in the family's absence, staff will be tending to their Montecito home."

Meghan and Harry's two dogs, Pula and Mia, will move to the U.K. with the family, the publication suggested. Both dogs regularly feature on Meghan's Instagram account and also appeared in her Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan.

Footage of Meghan and Harry's chicken coop was shared during the couple's 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. Adorably named "Archie's Chick Inn," the coop included a plethora of chickens the couple rescued from a factory farm. Understandably, it's likely not practical to move a chicken coop from the U.S. to the U.K., but the family will probably miss having the animals in their new backyard.

Meghan and Harry even adopted a bird from Ellen DeGeneres, who shared on social media, "Sinkie's leg is fixed but our chickens were still picking on her so she had to be re-homed. Luckily our friends Harry and Meghan's coop had room for one more. Not sure yet what her royal title will be."

For now, at least, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will sadly be separated from their beloved Montecito chicken coop.

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Prince Harry is set to return to the U.K. this week, one year ahead of the launch of the Invictus Games in Birmingham in July 2027. During the trip, he will allegedly meet with members of the Royal Family, and it was previously thought that Meghan Markle and their children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet—would be joining him. Apparently, that's no longer the case.

According to a new report in Hello! magazine, "The Duke of Sussex will make his highly-anticipated return to the U.K. next week, but his wife and children will not join him in London." While Prince Harry will visit London from July 7 until July 11, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet allegedly won't be present.

However, Harry's decision to travel to London solo doesn't necessarily preclude Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet from joining him in the U.K. outside of the city. Hello! reported that "no decision has been made as to the rest of the week yet and whether Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet will join Harry for other parts of the trip."

Still, royal fans will likely be disappointed that Archie and Lilibet won't be attending any public engagements alongside their dad.

Prince Harry underwent a long legal battle regarding the removal of his state-funded police protection.

Just days ago, the British government refused to provide police protection for Harry and his family in the U.K., unless they're inside one of the Royal Family's properties. As a source told the Guardian, "[Harry's] looking at every option to try and get the family here safely and keep them safe when they're on the ground. If he can find a way to do that he will."

The source continued, "The hope is they can meet their grandfather, but there is no way that can happen if they are chased by paparazzi wherever they go from the moment they step off the plane. He won't put his children through that."

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet were set to meet their grandpa King Charles for the first time since 2022 next month, but according to the Guardian, a source close to Prince Harry said the Sussex family’s “plans to see family, friends and visit various charitable causes close to the duke’s heart” have been “pulled out from under their feet at the 11th hour.”

Security in the U.K. has long been an issue for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and on Monday, June 29, the couple’s spokesperson issued a statement addressing their concerns for the trip. While accommodation at a royal residence has reportedly been offered to the duke and duchess, the spokesperson stated, “Safe accommodation is only one element of an effective protective security plan because risk follows the person, not the place.”

The rep added, “The issue has never been accommodation. The issue is whether appropriate and proportionate protective security is being provided throughout the entirety of the visit.”

Prince Harry's taxpayer-funded police protection was removed once he stepped down as a senior working royal, and he's been fighting the decision in court ever since.

While the Duke of Sussex awaits a final review of his security status ordered by the U.K.'s royal and VIP executive committee (Ravec), his representative stated, “The independent Risk Management Board that Ravec itself decided was necessary last November has still not taken place. It is therefore difficult to understand how the proportionality of the current arrangements can credibly be maintained without that independent assessment.”

“The duke continues to explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the UK,” the statement ended.

A source close to Prince Harry told the Guardian that the duke was concerned about his children being followed by photographers without a full security detail in place.

“The hope is they can meet their grandfather, but there is no way that can happen if they are chased by paparazzi wherever they go from the moment they step off the plane,” the source said. “He won’t put his children through that.”

While the Sussexes continues to assess their plans to travel for the Invictus Games One Year to Go Event in Birmingham, the family is currently vacationing in Europe, according to People.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have closely guarded their children’s privacy for many years. From clever crops, back-of-the-head shots, and creative posing, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have managed to share some photos of their children without ever really showing the world what Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet look like.

While some argue that any photos of their children are still a privacy concern, the truth remains that no one outside of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s inner circle really knows what Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet look like. After over six years of limiting their public exposure, all of that is about to change as Prince Harry is reportedly returning to the United Kingdom with Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet in tow.

Prince Harry confirmed his plans to return to the U.K. with his family in July, to mark the 1-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham. The pre-tournament events have been a driving force in creating excitement and publicity for the big games, which take place July 10-17, 2027. While there is no word if Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will spend any time with grandfather King Charles, or Uncle Prince William and Aunt Princess Kate—much less their only three cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—any Royal Family reunions are likely to be private and closely guarded.

Despite years of protecting Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s privacy, and ensuring they are safe and protected, a return to the U.K. creates an unprecedented public experience for the two young American royals. Given the high publicity of the pre-tournament Invictus Games events, and the excitement of seeing Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet back in the United Kingdom, it seems inevitable that photos of their little faces will emerge—whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle want them to, or not.

Meghan Markle shared a sweet glimpse into life lately at her Montecito home with Prince Harry, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet, captioning a carousel of photos on Instagram “Springing into summer.” Among the pictures of bird eggs, ‘Girl Dad’ t-shirts, and outfit selfies was a close-cropped photo of Princess Lilibet wearing an adorable Beyoncé t-shirt. While the image of Queen Bey on Lili’s shirt was iconic in itself, the unique brand story behind the design is even better.

Princess Lilibet’s t-shirt is the ‘B is for Beyoncé’ tee from Los Angeles-based brand Anchors-N-Asteroids. The brand designed t-shirt from 100% organic cotton, featuring exclusive sketches from an unexpected source: the brand’s now 15-year-old Creative Director, Pearl. Pearl and her mom, Gwynne, started designing clothes in 2020, when Pearl would sketch inspirational figures from music, politics, and history. Pearl was inspired by her tattoo artist father to start drawing, and her mom had the creative vision to turn those drawings into a clothing line.

Anchors-N-Asteroids designed a number of children’s clothing items that were sold at museums, boutiques, and independent shops. The brand doesn’t appear to have a social media presence and the website seems defunct, so Pearl and Gwynne’s designing days may be behind them. Nevertheless, the inspirational story of a 10-year-old girl who loved to sketch and her mom’s support turning into a brand that received global attention years later is seriously impressive.

Princess Lilibet looked like any other Beyoncé-loving girl in her ‘B is for Beyoncé’ tee and sweet strawberry print cotton leggings. Meghan Markle recently posted a sweet family snap to mark Princess Lilibet’s 5th birthday on June 4, also taken at their family home, with Meghan, Prince Harry, and Princess Lilibet sharing a hug. From birthday celebrations to watching eggs hatch, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie are clearly having an idyllic childhood in Montecito.

Princess Lilibet is celebrating her fifth birthday on Thursday, June 4, and Meghan Markle shared two new pictures on Instagram to celebrate her “dream girl.” Along with showing off her red hair, Lili wore an adorable designer sundress in the adorable birthday photos.

The Duchess of Sussex has long been a fan of Cult Gaia, and Lilibet took in her mom’s footsteps by wearing a cream-colored embroidered dress by the designer. The smocked, spaghetti strapped is a children’s version of Cult Gaia’s Lola dress, and the little princess first wore it in a photo shared on Meghan’s Instagram account in March.

Meghan has worn Cult Gaia on several occasions over the years, including a strapless teal dress she wore to the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany and one of the brand’s clutches, which she carried for her 42nd birthday dinner.

As for Lili's birthday pictures, Prince Harry holds his barefoot daughter in the first photo—captioned “Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili 🤍.” In the pic, proud mom Meghan smiles at her daughter, with Lilibet’s face obscured by her long hair. A second image shows Lili turned to the side as she admires a flower at her family’s Montecito, California home.

Last month, the Sussex family headed on a trip to Disneyland for an early birthday celebration with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. A source told People that Meghan and Harry decided to have a joint birthday celebration for Lilibet and her big brother, Prince Archie, who turned 7 on May 6.

“The kids did lots of rides, and it was a special way to extend Mother's Day for Meghan and her mom,” the insider said.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry didn't share many glimpses of Prince Archie as a baby, but on Wednesday, May 6, the Duchess of Sussex treated fans to a throwback photo to celebrate Archie's birthday.

"7 years later…happy birthday to our sweet boy 🤍" she wrote, sharing an image of her hand holding a printed photo featuring Prince Harry holding a newborn Archie. In the picture, the Duke of Sussex appears to be propped up in bed with the baby fast asleep under a blanket on his chest.

In a second photo, Prince Archie and his sister, Princess Lilibet, stand with their backs to the camera as they wade in water and take in a stunning mountain view.

While Prince Archie has only attended one public event, joining his parents to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu during their tour of South Africa in 2019, Meghan occasionally shares glimpses of the 7-year-old and his sister on social media now that she's back on Instagram.

The children have starred in videos and photos for Meghan's As ever brand, like a behind-the-scenes Reel she shared in March, and appeared in the Sussex family's California Christmas card in December. They've also helped the duchess make sweet treats to celebrate holidays like Valentine's Day and pitched in at a private volunteering event with Archewell last Thanksgiving.

Archie's birthday also marks another special day on the royal calendar, with King Charles celebrating the third anniversary of his coronation on May 6 with a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Meghan Markle is celebrating Mother’s Day a little bit early, and with a special nostalgia for her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. For their special Mother’s Day gift box, As Ever has created a Signature Candle Collection with a special meaning. The candles are titled No. 506—for Archie’s birthday, May 6—and No. 604—for Lilibet’s birthday, June 4th—and are inspired by a “special memory” Meghan Markle has with her children. In an emotional letter accompanying the gift set, Meghan Markle explained that the products are inspired by “the memorable moments of motherhood.”

“I developed these scents over the last year so that every note melded together to take me right back to a special memory with them,” the Duchess of Sussex wrote. “I can light this candle, close my eyes, and I'm right there. Afternoons in the garden picking flowers with Lili; the coziest nights snuggled up with Archie.” No. 506 features notes of ginger, neroli, and cashmere while No. 604 has scents of amber, water lily, and santal.

Alongside the candles, the collection features a special Mother’s Day Compartes Chocolate Box filled with caramel chocolate with marigold flower sprinkles. The chocolates feature the words 'As ever' written in edible gold lettering in Meghan’s signature calligraphy. The collection is available to purchase on the As Ever website from April 22.

“I hope that wherever you are, and whoever you're with, that you're feeling loved and celebrated,” Meghan Markle shared with customers ahead of Mother’s Day on May 10. Last year, the Duchess of Sussex shared a sweet message on Instagram to mark the holiday. “Cheers to juggling it all with joy!” she wrote, alongside a picture of her juggling both Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in her arms. “Being your mom is the greatest privilege of my life,” Markle shared, writing “I, too, ‘love you more than all the stars in all the sky, all the raindrops, and all the salt on all the french fries in all the world’.”

Graphic tees have been all the rage this spring, with everyone from Sabrina Carpenter to Miley Cyrus showing off their favorite slogans in recent weeks. Meghan Markle jumped in on the trend during her trip to Australia with Prince Harry, and her casual outfit also sent a sweet message to one of her close friends back in California.

The Duchess of Sussex wore one of her most laid-back looks in a long time for a trip to the Scar Tree Walk in Melbourne, pairing jeans and sneakers with a long coat and a graphic T-shirt that paid tribute to her friend Kelly McKee Zajfen’s charity, Alliance of Moms.

Meghan wore a white T-shirt featuring a red heart that says “Mama” in the middle, and the $40 charity tee supports young parents in foster care, including parenting education and wellness resources.

The shirt is especially touching since Zajfen recently gave birth to a baby boy after suffering the tragic loss of her 9-year-old son, Georgie, in 2022. Meghan has been a strong supporter of the Alliance for Moms over the years, modeling the charity's annual graphic tees in Instagram posts with her friends.

The duchess paired her tee with bootcut jeans from Australian brand Rolla's and a khaki car coat by another Australian-based label, Friends With Frank. She added delicate accessories, including the Natalie Marie diamond studs she wore in Australia in 2018 and Logan Hollowell constellation rings, finishing off the look with white Freda Salvador d'orsay sneakers.

Meghan swapped her sneakers and jeans for sky-high heels and a mini dress at her next event, joining Prince Harry to visit Batyr, an Australian mental health organization focused on preventative education and early intervention.

The Duchess of Sussex once again chose an outfit from Friends With Frank, wearing the brand's $389 Anya Dress. The sleeveless olive style features a boxy, 1960's inspired silhouette, and she paired it with sheer black tights and Manolo Blahnik pumps.

While speaking about her own mental health at the event, Meghan said she's been relentlessly bullied online. “Every day for 10 years, I have been bullied or attacked, and I was the most trolled woman in the entire world,” she said, adding that social media “predicated on cruelty to get clicks.”

It’s hard to believe it has only been a little more than a year since we first heard about Meghan Markle’s jam. Markle launched her lifestyle brand, As Ever, in March 2025, alongside the announcement of her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. After two seasons and a holiday special, Netflix has put the series to bed, but As Ever continues—and is looking to grow. Royal expert and editor Emily Andrews wonders how Meghan Markle plans to expand her lifestyle brand. Writing for Woman and Home, Andrews revealed that her team has been “pushing to do more as As Ever has grown exponentially over the past 12 months.”

“One of her team told me, 'Netflix do sell merchandise [for hits] like Bridgerton or Squid Game, but it's only a side hustle to them,” Andrews revealed. While other hit series make money off of streams and subscriptions, the product line is seen as an added bonus—not the main source of income. As Meghan Markle looked to expand As Ever beyond the flower sprinkles seen on her show, Netflix “just wanted to play it very safe.”

While the As Ever lineup originally focused on jam (or rather, the legally-defined term “spread”), flower sprinkles, and homegrown honey, it has since expanded to chocolate bars, bookmarks, wine, and more. Despite having 879,000 followers on Instagram, the brand does seem to have a lot of jam to sell. A “website glitch in January,” Andrews wrote, “revealed unsold stock totalling £16.3 million, including 220,000 jars of jam.” If Meghan Markle is looking to grow the brand, As Ever’s sales and marketing might need an uptick.

“Currently they only ship to the US,” Andrews said, explaining that “if she does want global coverage, then I guess a big stock list is necessary.” Especially with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s trip to Australia on the horizon, international growth seems like a good idea.

Prince Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, has found love again with fiancée Harriet Sperling after his divorce from Autumn Kelly, and this week, a representative for the couple announced their anticipated wedding date. Harriet and Peter will walk down the aisle on Saturday, June 6, and former royal butler Grant Harrold says even though it will be a “smaller scale occasion,” the wedding will give the Royal Family a boost amid a turbulent time.

According to their rep, the couple’s wedding will be held at All Saints Church in the village of Kemble, England. Along with Princess Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, fans can expect to see Peter’s sister, Zara Tindall, her husband, Mike, and their three children at the wedding. Other guests at the private ceremony will likely include Peter’s uncle, King Charles, and other senior members of the Royal Family such as Prince William and Princess Kate.

Speaking on behalf of CasinoHawks, Harrold—who served The King at Highgrove House between 2004 and 2011—says that Peter and Harriet’s countryside wedding won't be as grand “compared to other royal weddings, but there will still be excitement surrounding the event.”

“While still a much-loved member of the Royal Family, Peter isn’t a senior member and is low down the line of succession, so it won’t be anything like what we saw for Harry or Eugenie,” Harrold explains of Phillips, who does not hold a title at Princess Anne’s insistence.

“However it’s still a royal wedding, and we’ll still have the family out together—so there will be a lot of interest and media attention,” the former butler adds.

With a population of less than 1,000 people, the village of Kemble is a far cry from London or Windsor, but it’s just about a 20-minute drive from Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence’s sprawling estate, Gatcombe Park—an ideal choice for a wedding reception.

“Royal events in that area are normally quite lowkey, unlike the massive events we’ve seen at Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle,” Harrold says. “I imagine we’ll see photos of them arriving and leaving the event, and there will be official pictures released. I hope they share one big family photo, that would be lovely to see.”

After Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on February 19, there's been a heightened focus on the Royal Family and what they knew about his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Harrold points out that the wedding will be a happy moment during a stressful time for the family.

“The royals will be wanting some good news because there's been so much negativity recently, they need something positive,” the former butler says. “It is a reason to celebrate and they will want this to be picked up as a positive piece of news, despite it being a more private engagement.”

Prince Harry attended the IAPP—International Association of Privacy Professionals, an association committed to the protection of data privacy—Global Summit 2026 and gave a keynote speech, where he highlighted the difficult process of change “like turning an oil tanker.”

“I’m assuming most days are hard days,” Prince Harry said in an interview, explaining that people in the sector are “always being kept awake at night because of what you’re seeing, what you know is wrong.” Online privacy and social media reform is one of the key issues in Prince Harry’s post-royal work, after his own experiences with social media attacks and his family’s quest for privacy. “By this point [internet privacy reform] has already taken far too long, but I do feel like we are on the cusp of something transformational."

As Prince Harry looked to support his and his wife’s online privacy, he learned of the dangerous and potentially deadly online world, which sees very little in the form of regulation. "You understand very quickly the preventable suffering and how wide that goes," Harry said, explaining that “it was because of the time spent on social media and the content being pushed their way," referencing children and adolescents who were deeply affected by online bullying, digital information, and harmful algorithms. "The fact that even one child is taking their own life because of the content that is being pushed to them through social media is fundamentally wrong.”

"When I see young people now, they have a different experience of [privacy],” Prince Harry said. Growing up in a completely digital age, where anything can be shared online at any time, Prince Harry feels “they also don't have an option or haven't been given an option.” Based on conversations with young people today, Prince Harry said "I think they care a lot about privacy,” explaining that young people “just haven't had to worry about it before."

Prince Harry shared his hopes that these conversations would push for real reform, and even government regulations, to protect online privacy. "Regulation is part of innovation, but it's uncomfortable,” Prince Harry said. He chastised the companies behind these online spaces, who encourage discourse and discussions without any real change. "It really just creates this public debate,” he said. “And when things are publicly debated, nothing ever actually happens."

The Princess of Wales leaned into vintage glamour for a historic church service to install the new Archbishop of Canterbury. At Canterbury Cathedral, Princess Kate looked as if she were transported from a bygone era in a grey Suzannah coat. The very royal coat dress featured a classic double-breasted style with a sharp-cornered collar, but the accessories truly shaped the outfit into a glamorous, timeless ensemble that could have been plucked from a 1950s fashion magazine.

The star of the outfit was Princess Kate’s Juliette Botterill boater hat. The houndstooth straw boater is described by the brand as “the perfect blend of classic style and modern flair.” The black and ivory straw woven into a classic houndstooth design is “adorned with a single ostrich quill.” A far cry from the cocktail hats and fascinators that the Princess of Wales was once known for, this substantial hat perched on her perfect chignon made an elegant statement.

The pearlescent shine from beneath the brim of the boater hat comes from London-based jewelry designer Cassandra Goad. The brand’s Cavolfiore earrings have appeared at some of Princess Kate’s most important events, from christenings to Trooping the Colour. According to the International Gem Society, “some legends describe white pearls as divine tears shed by gods,” while one myth claims that “the tears Eve cried upon her banishment from Eden transformed into pearls.” This emotional symbolism paired with the undeniable classic elegance of pearls made these earrings the perfect choice for today’s church service.

Nothing screams vintage glamour like a pair of ladylike gloves. Princess Kate held her Cornelia James 'Imogen' gloves in her hand for the service, allowing her to shake hands while completing the classic look. The superfine jersey Merino wool gloves are an iconic style for both the brand and the Princess of Wales. Cornelia James described the Imogen style as “a glove which is dear to our hearts,” saying that the style “will take you anywhere.”

To bring together the vintage-inspired outfit, Princess Kate chose one of her most iconic handbags: the Chanel Mini Classic handbag in Lambskin. Based on a 1955 designed by Coco Chanel herself, and reinvented by Karl Lagerfeld in the 1980s, the style is distinctly elegant. Sotheby’s praises the iconic handbag, saying “it remains a cherished staple in fashion, celebrated for its practicality and luxurious craftsmanship.”

The most meaningful piece of Princess Kate’s outfit was perhaps the most delicate. The Princess of Wales wore a delicate diamond cross necklace that she has favored for many years, wearing an identical—if not exactly the same—necklace to the wedding of Rose Astor and Hugh Van Cutsem in 2005. The timeless crucifix necklace in a simple design demonstrates the princess’s quiet elegance and her unwavering faith, perfect for the historic church service in Canterbury.

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Meghan Markle returned to her hometown of Los Angeles for a special afternoon with patients and families at Children’s Hospital LA. The Duchess of Sussex was full of smiles for the young patients, as she visited their hospital rooms and spent time painting and drawing with them at the hospital’s “Creative Oasis.”

The visit was part of the hospital’s Make March Matter campaign, a “month-long fundraising campaign supporting the lifesaving care, research, and innovation” for the hospital that has been “a steadfast beacon of hope and healing” for 125 years, Children’s Hospital LA shared on Instagram. In a post celebrating Meghan Markle’s visit, the hospital shared that they “were honored to welcome LA’s own Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to CHLA’s Creative Oasis, where she spent time painting alongside our incredible patients.”

“These special moments are a reminder of how powerful creativity can be in fostering joy, connection, and healing,” the hospital said. Meghan Markle spent time with patients, painting watercolor roses and coloring Hello Kitty pictures, and learning about the Creative Oasis—one of several family-focused facilities at the hospital. This was not her first official appearance at the highly-respected children’s hospital. In 2024, Meghan visited the facility to read a storybook to children and attended their annual gala later that same year.

During the visit, Meghan Markle met with Sophie Ryan, a 13-year-old girl who has been battling pediatric brain cancer for most of her life. Sophie’s mother, Tracy Ryan, wrote an emotional Instagram post, sharing her excitement at “the most incredible surprise.”

“I’m honestly not sure who was more excited… me or Soph!” Tracy Ryan wrote. “Meghan was so warm, kind, and gracious,” and, according to young Sophie, “she smelled really good!” The most important part of these visits is how much they mean to the patients, families, and staff supporting these organizations. “What an absolute honor and such a bright moment in the middle of a long hospital week,” Sophie’s mother said.

Princess Lilibet has only been to England once in her life, and with relations between her father, Prince Harry, and uncle, Prince William, remaining frosty, it seems unlikely she'll be close with the Wales family anytime soon. However, a new royal biography has revealed the one olive branch Princess Kate and Prince William sent to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after their daughter's birth.

Meghan and Harry stepped down as senior working royals in early 2020 and moved to Montecito, California—and following their controversial Oprah Winfrey interview, Prince William was left "absolutely seething."

In an excerpt from William & Catherine, The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story (via People), the Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers shares that the Prince of Wales "felt betrayed by Harry to the extent that he vowed never to speak to him again."

However, when the Sussexes welcomed Lilibet Diana—a little sister to son Prince Archie—in June 2021, William and Kate did reach out.

"William and Catherine sent a gift and a card of congratulations—although that would be the extent of their contact," Myers writes.

Even if they never reconcile with Harry and Meghan, the royal author notes that the Prince and Princess of Wales won't stop Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis from having a relationship with their California relatives.

"William and Catherine had retreated from having any direct contact with the Sussexes, but they privately maintained that if there was a way for their children to have a relationship with their cousins in the future, they would not stand in their way," Myers writes.

Although Prince Harry has been public about not feeling safe bringing his family to the U.K., a change in his taxpayer-funded security status could pave the way for a royal reunion one day—but only time will tell.

Prince William and Princess Kate aim to give their kids as many normal childhood experiences as they can, and that includes taking part in team sports. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis compete in activities like soccer and rugby, and according to the Oxford Mail, "regular mum" Princess Kate was on hand to cheer for 7-year-old Louis at a match on Sunday, February 1.

Prince Louis's soccer team played a friendly game in the village of Wargrave, located near Oxfordshire, and according to the media outlet, the Princess of Wales showed up in a "long, dark green coat," wearing her hair in a ponytail.

One parent told the media outlet that "this woman was coming towards me and it was Princess Kate and I said hello. All the parents ran out to say hello. She was very nice and friendly." The father added, "If the parents had flags, they'd be waving them."

The soccer dad added, "She got out of the car, there was no massive presence. She had makeup on but she was totally informal. Most people did not know she was there."

The man's wife told the Oxford Mail that all of the players were "pleasantly surprised and pleased" that the Princess of Wales attended their game.

"She was a regular mum watching her son play football and she was nicely turned out," the woman said, adding that it was "nice to see that she still does things like that."

The Prince and Princess of Wales have previously talked about making the rounds for their kids' activities. In 2025, the couple told players at the Six Nations Rugby match that George and Louis were especially busy with rugby.

"Louis is 6 and he's just started touch rugby, and George is 11 and he plays a bit more. They do really enjoy it," Princess Kate said, while Prince William added, "At weekends, we go from one competition to the next."

Princess Charlene attended a special mass for the Saint Dévote Day celebrations at Monaco Cathedral on January 27, and the royal—who just celebrated her birthday on Sunday—was wearing an incredible new piece of jewelry for the occasion. Charlene, 48, debuted the Tiffany & Co. Paris Flame brooch at mass with Prince Albert, pinning the $42,000 design to a sophisticated navy coat.

The 18-carat yellow gold and platinum piece is described by Tiffany & Co. as being "accented with scintillating diamonds at the center," with its star-shaped design echoing "the movement of a blazing flame."

Charlene kept the rest of her jewelry understated to let her new brooch shine, wearing her hair pulled back to reveal a pair of diamond studs. Along with her navy coat with scarf-like detail at the neckline, she kept the blue theme going with a new Louis Vuitton Capucines Mini bag.

The princess has been showing off a longer hairstyle in recent weeks, and she wore her shoulder-length hair swept up and accented with a wide navy headband.

Princess Charlene might have been treated to her new brooch and bag for her January 25 birthday, which the palace marked by sharing a portrait of the princess in a classic white dress on social media.

Ahead of Tuesday's Saint Dévote celebrations, Princess Charlene joined Prince Albert and their 11-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, to attend another church service and light a bonfire in honor of Corsica and Monaco's patron saint.

Charlene chose a new gray chevron Dolce & Gabbana coat for the ceremony, pairing it with a black turtleneck, and an old favorite black Prada bag and tall black Gianvito Rossi boots. Meanwhile, Princess Gabriella, who takes after her stylish mother when it comes to designer labels, wore a navy dress coat with matching Emporio Armani ballet flats.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are raising their two children—Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4—in Montecito, California. Both kids have started making brief appearances on the Duchess of Sussex's Instagram account, and to help launch her brand, As ever. Now, Meghan has reflected on whether her daughter will ever take part in one particular activity in the future.

Duchess Meghan is currently at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in support of the documentary Cookie Queens, which follows a group of Girl Scouts. When asked whether Princess Lilibet will be joining the Girl Scouts in the future, the duchess told Deadline, "I think we'll continue to explore whatever feels right."

She continued, "[Director] Alysa [Nahmias] is a mom of a daughter, and I think for both of us working on this project it's been incredibly special as parents, as mothers to be able to see something our girls will be able to enjoy and watch as well."

Meghan is an executive producer of the documentary, alongside husband Prince Harry.

Duchess Meghan discussed the movie's subject matter with Deadline, saying, "It really embeds such great values from the get-go. I was a Girl Scout, my mom was a troop leader, and I think the value of friendship, of being dedicated to a goal as you can see that in Cookie Queens, it's so reflective of how these girls stick with something that's important to them and don't give up. And self-belief is an integral value that comes with being a Girl Scout."

For now, at least, Princess Lilibet won't be selling Girl Scout cookies, but that might change in the future.

As the 2016 throwback social media trend gains popularity, even members of the Royal Family have started taking part. While sharing a previously unseen snap taken with Prince Harry 10 years ago, Meghan Markle also revealed her daughter Princess Lilibet's one secret skill.

"When 2026 feels just like 2016...you had to be there," Duchess Meghan captioned the Instagram post, which showed a photo of her hugging Harry on vacation a decade ago. She also shared a video captured more recently. As for the video's credit, the Duchess of Sussex revealed that "our daughter"—Princess Lilibet—captured the special moment showing Meghan and Harry dancing together in their backyard.

Basically, 10 years after the sweet picture was taken, Meghan and Harry's relationship is better than ever, and their children appear to be thriving in Montecito, California.

During their official engagement interview in 2017, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed that they'd vacationed in Botswana together soon after they started dating.

"[W]e met once and then twice, back to back, two dates in London, last July [2016]," Prince Harry explained to the BBC (via People). He continued, "The beginning of July. And then it was, I think, about three, maybe four weeks later that I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana. And we—we camped out with each other under the stars, we spent—she came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic."

Meghan responded by saying the trip allowed them to "take the time to be able to go on long country walks and just talk." And now, a decade later, their 4-year-old daughter is capturing videos of romantic moments between the two royals at home.

After years of court battles, Prince Harry's U.K. security could be reinstated in the near future. After a new review of the Duke of Sussex's taxpayer-funded police protection, sources have claimed that the royal is feeling confident about the situation—and that he's hoping for a reunion with his children and King Charles.

A source close to the Sussexes told the Mail on Sunday that when it comes to reinstating Harry's security, "It's now a formality." The insider continued, "Sources at the Home Office have indicated that security is now nailed-on for Harry."

In December, the duke was granted a full risk assessment by the U.K.'s Home Office, a move that came as a surprise to many since Prince Harry lost his appeal to reinstate his security last year. The last time Harry received a risk assessment was in 2020 when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior working royals.

During his September 2025 visit to the U.K., a known stalker got close to Prince Harry on two occasions, prompting the duke to write to the U.K.'s Home Secretary and ask for his security to be reconsidered.

Once Prince Harry's risk assessment is complete, the U.K.'s Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) will make the final decision on his case. A ruling is expected in the coming weeks.

The Duke of Sussex has been open about how his lack of security in the U.K. has prevented him from bringing wife Meghan Markle and kids Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, back to his home country.

"If you knew about the kind of threats Harry and his children have been getting, then you would understand why he doesn't want to bring the kids over until police protection is granted," an insider told the Mail on Sunday.

The children have not seen their grandfather, King Charles, since 2022, when they visited during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee. If Prince Harry's police protection is reinstated, it would open doors for Archie and Lilibet to visit the U.K. once again.

But according to one source, the duke has also "made it clear that he would love his dad to come and visit him and the family" in California, according to the Sun. "He knows that they are strained, but he has mentioned several times a hope that his father can have a relationship with his grandchildren," the insider added.

On December 19, Meghan Markle shared the Sussex family's holiday photo for 2025. Royal fans were quick to notice that Princess Charlotte's style appeared to have influenced Princess Lilibet's shoe choice. But Charlotte wasn't the only Royal Family member to inspire Lilibet's Christmas card photo outfit.

In the adorable holiday picture, Princess Lilibet could be seen wearing a blue J.Crew dress, which featured a waist bow trim and a tulle ruffle hem. Her cap-toed silver-and-black Mary Janes from London-based brand La Coqueta evoked her cousin Princess Charlotte's sweet style. But it was the white knee socks that seemed to reference two unexpected family members.

As reported by Hello! magazine, "Both Prince George and Prince Louis have been seen wearing socks like this in the past."

While Prince William and Princess Kate's two sons have graduated to wearing pants at official events, young male members of the Royal Family typically wear shorts. As a result, both Louis and George have been photographed rocking knee-high socks at a multitude of events over the years.

For instance, Prince Louis was photographed on Easter Sunday on April 9, 2023—then 4 years old—wearing a pair of navy knee socks with his light blue shorts. His older brother George, who was 9 years old at the time, wore full-length pants for the same occasion.

Prince George has been spotted wearing knee socks on many occasions, including when he visited his sister Princess Charlotte following her birth in May 2015.

Princess Lilibet lives an ocean away from her British cousins, but it seems that all of the young royals share a similar sense of style.

American-born Princess Lilibet might live an ocean away from her British cousin Princess Charlotte, but she shares at least one thing in common with the 10-year-old royal, as displayed in the Sussex family's 2025 holiday photo.

Meghan Markle shared a sweet snapshot with the Duke of Sussex and their kids on Instagram on Friday, December 19, writing, "Happy Holidays! From our family to yours." In the image, Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet and Meghan pose on a rustic bridge over a stream, with the children's faces concealed from the camera.

Four-year-old Lilibet wears a sleeveless blue J.Crew dress in the photo, with the sold-out jacquard style featuring bow trim at the waist and a tulle ruffle hem. But it was her adorable shoes that stole the show in the photo, with Lili wearing white knee socks with a pair of cap-toed silver-and-black Mary Janes by London-based brand La Coqueta.

Princess Charlotte has also worn shoes from the brand, which was founded by Spaniard Celia Muñoz. Prince William and Princess Kate often dress their children in Spanish brands, perhaps because of their Spanish-born nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo.

In 2022, Charlotte wore a pair of white sandals from La Coqueta during her first solo engagement with her parents at the Commonwealth Games. Prince Louis has also worn the brand when he was a baby, sporting an embroidered blue and white set in the family photos for The King's 70th birthday.

As for the rest of the Sussex family, the Duchess of Sussex looked breezy in a sleeveless white dress in their holiday photo, pairing it with black slingback flats.

Prince Archie, 6, and Prince Harry coordinated in navy trousers and sneakers, with Archie wearing a gray sweater featuring navy elbow patches and Harry choosing a classic white button-up shirt.

Archie and Lili didn't make an appearance in the family's second card, which was also released on December 19. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's official card featured a photo of the couple from the Invictus Games in Canada earlier this year, and was sent in conjunction with a name change for their Archewell Foundation.

The foundation will henceforth be known as Archwell Philanthropies, with a statement on the Archewell website reading, "After five beautiful years, the Archewell Foundation is becoming Archewell Philanthropies. This charitable entity allows the couple and their children to expand upon their global philanthropic endeavors as a family."

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In early 2024, the question on everyone's lips was "Where is Princess Kate?" The Princess of Wales announced she was undergoing a planned abdominal surgery in January, but as the weeks went on, her disappearance from public life raised questions (and attacks on the princess) on social media and in the press. As a royal editor, you can guarantee every time I went to a social gathering the first thing someone asked me was about Kate and whether she was alive/suffering from an eating disorder/some other wild conspiracy theory.

In March 2024, the Princess of Wales announced she'd been diagnosed with cancer, but her heartfelt video didn't put all of the vicious rumors to rest. In its latest issue, People magazine spoke to royal experts about how Princess Kate has recovered from her most challenging year yet.

Historian Amanda Foreman told the outlet that Kate "is someone who stared down the abyss" as she received cancer treatment. "She didn’t just face a life-­threatening illness —the global Internet went after her," she continued. "It was a character assassination."

While speaking about her recovery, the Princess of Wales has credited the support of her family and getting into nature as beneficial while she faced months of chemotherapy.

"She has that steeliness and that tremendous charm and that smile," Foreman told People of Princess Kate. "It’s the combination of a willingness to show vulnerability but at the same time not being vulnerable."

Whether it's greeting global leaders during state visits or attending events for causes close to their heart, both William and Kate have been stepping up into prominent roles as they eye a future as King and Queen.

The Princess of Wales "is in this confident phase where she is able to define who she is, what she does and how much she does," biographer Catherine Mayer said. "In that sense, she’s approaching her prime."

Although she was recovering at home for the majority of 2024 and pulled out of several events in the past year, such as Royal Ascot, the Princess of Wales has increasingly picked up her workload in the later half of 2025.

However, with three young children at home, Princess Kate is careful to balance duties with parenting, such as when she skipped the 2025 Earthshot Prize in Brazil to be home with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

"Now that [Kate] has begun to turn a corner, they will be deploying her as much as they can," royal expert Sally Bedell Smith said of the Royal Family, adding that it was "important" for the future King William and Queen Catherine "to be at the center of the action.”

Queen Elizabeth absolutely loved it when something went wrong during her precisely scheduled public engagements, so it's no wonder that one incident at Sandringham became the talk of the Royal Family for years to come. Christmas at Sandringham House might run like "clockwork," but former royal butler Paul Burrell says that every so often, a mishap occurred, and it was these moments that became the most memorable.

Speaking exclusively to Marie Claire on behalf of Casino.org, Burrell—who worked for both Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth over his royal career—describes one "disaster" when a staff member quite literally set himself on fire during dinner.

Explaining the scene, the former butler says, "Christmas lunch would reach its grand finale, the lights around the table would be dimmed, and the pudding would be paraded in with great ceremony." He added that brandy would be heated over a flame, and "when it reached the right temperature, it would be poured over the pudding, and the palace steward would set it alight."

However, one year, "there was just a little too much brandy." Burrell says that when the steward lit the pudding, "the flames shot up and quite literally singed the palace steward’s eyebrows clean off. He was briefly on fire, and the entire table collapsed with laughter."

Instead of jumping up to help, the Royal Family couldn't stop laughing, Burrell says, continuing, "They didn’t rush in to rescue him, because it was the most unusual thing that had happened all Christmas, and for them it was hilarious and talked about throughout Christmas."

The former butler didn't elaborate on who was present at the table that year, but he served Princess Diana as a butler from 1987 through her 1997 death, and prior to that, worked as a footman for Queen Elizabeth.

"They’ve got a very peculiar sense of humor, and seeing something like that was just priceless…priceless for everyone," he adds of the Royal Family. "And they never forgot it. They never forgot the year the palace steward set his own eyebrows alight."

Burrell tells Marie Claire that such "disasters or surprises" made Christmas more interesting for the family. "It was only when something unusual happened that they could really laugh and enjoy themselves," he shares, adding that "everything followed the same rhythm, every year" otherwise.

With all of the strict rules and traditions, it's no wonder that some singed eyebrows caused at least a brief moment of comic relief. Princess Diana famously hated the extremely structured routine at Sandringham, with Burrell sharing, "She tried so hard to fit in, but she didn’t like it. She felt trapped."

Prince Harry has been fighting to reinstate his police protection in the U.K. ever since he stepped down as a senior working royal and moved to California in 2020. In May, the Duke of Sussex lost his court case challenging the removal, but on Monday, December 8, he received some positive news. As reported by the Sun, Prince Harry has won a Home Office review and there will be a further investigation into why he was stripped of his 24-hour armed security when he visits home.

The Duke of Sussex has stated that this lack of protection is why he doesn't feel safe bringing his wife, Meghan Markle, or their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, to the U.K. Because of the situation, the kids have not seen grandpa King Charles since Queen Elizabeth's 2022 Platinum Jubilee.

According to the Sun, the "Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) has now instructed its Risk Management Board to reassess his threat level for the first time in nearly six years." The outlet added that the review is currently in process, "with evidence taken from police, government and Harry’s team."

In an interview with the BBC after losing his High Court case in May, the Duke of Sussex shared that he "would love" to reconcile with King Charles and Prince William. However, he added, "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point."

In the 2024 documentary Tabloids on Trial, Harry elaborated on his feelings, explaining, "all it takes is one lone actor" to put himself or his family in danger.

During his recent trip to the U.K. in September, the Duke of Sussex reunited with King Charles for the first time in more than a year-and-a-half. However, a known stalker came within feet of Harry on not one, but two occasions during the visit.

Per the Sun, a decision on Prince Harry's security is expected "next month." If the new Risk Management Board assessment turns in Harry's favor, it could clear the path for Archie and Lilibet to travel with their parents to the U.K.—and reunite with their grandpa.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet might not make an appearance in mom Meghan Markle's new special, With Love Meghan: Holiday Celebration, but the Duchess of Sussex did share some insights about her kids in her latest Netflix offering.

Joined by author and restaurateur Will Guidara, Meghan sat down to make Christmas crackers, a tradition from the U.K. that's beloved by the Royal Family. While people typically buy boxed crackers each year, the Duchess of Sussex explained it's easy—and more special—to make your own.

While rolling up paper and filling the crackers, she explained that Prince Harry's "has a little love letter, chocolate and a little hat," while Princess Lilibet's included a lavender roller ball fragrance because "she likes trying to be a grown-up lady at the moment."

Although Lili hasn't yet made a public appearance, she recently joined her parents for a private charity event to help make meals for the less fortunate ahead of Thanksgiving.

And during an event at Godmothers bookstore in October, Meghan opened up about Lilibet's "strong personality."

"Our daughter, she’s four and she’s a very strong personality and she’s incredible," Meghan shared. "And now she’s in this moment where I say, 'What’s your rose and your thorn?' And she goes, ‘My day was just a blast.'"

As for Prince Archie, the duchess explained "he loves the color red" and hamburgers, placing small burger charms inside his Christmas cracker during the holiday special.

Elsewhere in the episode, Meghan filled an advent calendar for Archie and Lilibet filled with notes such as, "I love you because you’re so kind" and "I love you because you're so brave...little findings."

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are starting off the holiday season by supporting their local community, and they brought their kids along for the very first time. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet made their charity event debut alongside the rest of the Archewell Team at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles. Together, they prepped ingredients, baked cookies, and packaged meals “for community members experiencing food insecurity.”

In a post titled “Honoring the Season through Service,” the Archewell website shared their ongoing commitment to “putting compassion into action—serving and uplifting communities locally and globally.” The Foundation shared, “as we head into the holiday season, we celebrate those working every day to ensure that no one is left behind and where the needs of our neighbors are met.”

Meghan Markle posted a video slideshow on Instagram, captioned “Show Up, Do Good,” and featuring subtle photos of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet mixing and rolling out cookie dough. The charity visit is the first major charity event that Archie and Lili have attended with their parents.

The Duchess of Sussex has always had a passion for helping others during the holidays. In a feature for The Tig, her now-defunct lifestyle website, Meghan shared her traditions of “buying turkeys for homeless shelters at Thanksgiving, delivering meals to patients in hospice care, donating any spare change in their pocket to those asking for it, and performing quiet acts of grace—be it a hug, a smile, or a pat on the back to show ones in need that they would be alright.”

Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, set an example early, just as Meghan and Harry are doing now for Archie and Lilibet. Speaking of her own experience, Meghan said, “this is what I grew up seeing, so that is what I grew up being, a young adult with a social consciousness to do what I could.”

It's no secret that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have strong feelings about the impact of technology on kids and young people.

Last year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex founded The Parents' Network to support families who have suffered from the harmful effects of social media and in April, while they were in NYC for the TIME100 Summit, the couple unveiled the Lost Screen Memorial, which is dedicated to young people lost too soon as a result of the harmful impact of social media.

So, when Harry made a surprise appearance on the October 29 episode of the Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know podcast to talk candidly about, among other things, his home life with Meghan and their two children, Archie, 6 and Lilibet 4, it made sense that the conversation turned to the Sussexes' plans for handling technology and parenting.

Host Hasan Minhaj, who is father of two himself, was direct when it came to addressing the issue with the royal.

"I don't know if you guys have hit this crossroads yet, but what are you going to do when your kids ask for a cell phone?" he asked Harry during the interview. "Are you going to give them a phone? Have you talked to Meghan about this, cause I've talked to my wife about this."

"We talk about it a lot," Harry admitted (per People). "I think that because of what we know now, we will be way more cautious and hesitant of allowing our kids to have access to social media, but the problem is, so many parents don't have that awareness."

"Because in no logical, fair, ethical, moral world, should a parent have to consider this app, that sits on the phone—which by the way, having a phone for your kid is a really important thing—but the moment that you give them the gateway to everything else, kids will be kids," the royal continued.

Minhaj pressed the issue, mentioning his own daughter—who is seven—is getting older and asking Harry what he and Meghan plan to do when their own kids "hit that 8, 9, 10 place" and admitting, "I don't know what to do because I feel like I'm being opted in."

Harry acknowledged the pressure on parents to let their kids opt-in to technology and the very real benefits of kids having phones for family communication purposes. To balance those factors, the Duke of Sussex hinted that he and Meghan might opt to go "old-school" and get flip phones for their kids—if the social media and technology landscape hasn't changed for the better by then, that is.

"You're right, a lot of parents feel as if they don't have a choice, and a lot of kids don't have a choice. Because the reality is, if you're talking about just having a smart phone and an old-school phone are two very different things," Harry said. "If you want to be able to contact your kid, maybe we should just be giving them the old-school phone… but I think that our goal has to be to make sure that when our children get to that age, that the situation now isn't the situation then. There's no reason why it should be."

Harry also acknowledged the reality that keeping kids off smartphones and social media can, in and of itself, make them targets for bullying at school "because they're the only person not on the platform."

Minhaj asked Harry what he thinks the right age to allow kids to join social media is, declaring, "For me, it's 35."

For Harry, the answer isn't a specific age, but a developmental milestone.

"I think once your brain is properly formed," he said. "Once you are starting to learn who you are."

While Minhaj admitted that he wished his own kids would stay off social media until they're in college, Harry said that, while that would be a "sensible" rule formalize, realistically, it would be hard to regulate.

"Twenty-one is a sensible age, but the companies won't ever allow that," Harry said. "They will throw tens of millions of dollars to lobby against that."

If you ever happen to have a business call scheduled with Prince Harry, be prepared for adorable interruptions.

During an appearance on the October 29 episode of the Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know podcast, the royal and father of two spoke candidly about his home life—including his children's tendency to "just barge in" when he's on calls.

Like many working parents, Harry frequently has to juggle work and home life. When work has to take priority, he heads to the home office he shares with his wife, Meghan Markle at their house in Montecito, California—and, according to People, the couple's two children, Prince Archie, 6, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 4, like to follow and even hop on calls he takes.

When the subject of work and his kids came up, host Hasan Minhaj asked Harry the obvious burning question: "What do your kids think you do?"

"They know that we help other people, but they don't know the background," Harry said, referring to the charitable work he and Meghan do.

The pair joked back and forth a bit before Minhaj brought the question back up, asking "When you're like, 'Daddy's on a call,' what do they think?"

According to Harry, like most four- and six-year-olds, they really don't care what he does for work.

"All they're interested in is saying hi to the people on the call," he admitted. "Or they're fascinated to see other people. They love seeing familiar faces."

And they see those faces—both familiar and new—up close and personal when they decide to full-on crash his calls, which the Duke of Sussex admits happens "occasionally."

"They will run in and kind of, occasionally, there's the moment with the hand on the forehead, saying, 'Not now,'" he explained. "But then they just jump on the lap and say, 'Hi guys!'"

Archie and Lilibet have also gotten a close-up look at some of their mom's work, as Meghan revealed in an Instagram post earlier this fall highlighting some behind-the-scenes moments from filming season 2 of her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan.

The gallery of images in the post included a snap of Archie and Lilibet visiting the show's set.

Members of the British media flocked to to Windsor on Thursday night amid rumors of an imminent statement from the royal family at Prince Andrew's home, Royal Lodge—only to be told there would be no announcement from the royals after all.

According to the Daily Mail, the rumor seems to have started when "senior BBC journalists were allegedly briefed on Thursday evening that 'something significant' was expected to happen at the Prince's Royal Lodge home."

Given the growing backlash facing Andrew amid the latest round of scandalous revelations about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, most of the journalists who gathered in Windsor for the subsequently-cancelled announcement no doubt expected the statement to be about Andrew.

And, given the increasing calls for Andrew to leave the royal residence he's called home for more that 20 years in the wake of his decision to comply with the King's wishes and voluntarily relinquish his royal titles and honors, many members of the press likely expected news that the former Duke of York would be moving out of the sprawling, 30-room mansion Andrew reportedly pays a "peppercorn rent" to live in.

Former senior BBC journalist Emily Maitlis was one of the journalists in attendance and she shared an update from the scene shortly before 8 p.m., writing, "We may be expecting news from the Windsor estate later this evening where tv crews have been told to expect 'passing traffic,'"

In spite of teases like these, the Palace abruptly changed course and reportedly responded to "numerous media questions" by insisting "that there would not in fact be any announcement that evening," according to the Daily Mail's report., which goes on to explain that, within hours of arriving for the teased news, the "entire press pack that had gathered was stood down by editors."

"There was great excitement at what might be about to happen—and then nothing did," one member of the royal press told the Daily Mail of the situation, which the reported described as having a "febrile atmosphere."

"So, naturally, everyone remains very jumpy and is speculating furiously about what might be about to happen—what might be about to be announced and about whom.

'There's a febrile atmosphere.'

The jarring reversal from the Palace prompted an update from Maitlis, who now hosts a podcast and wrote, "Crews have now been pulled and stood down. Very confusing."

Even after accepting the Palace's insistence that no statement would be coming after all, the journalists who had gathered in Windsor continued to speculate amongst themselves about the planned statement and about the "nature of the tip-off that had been given to the BBC," according to the Daily Mail.

In spite of mounting pressure from MPs, of the public, and even the King himself for Andrew to relocate to a more humble, private residence that better reflects his new status with the royal family, Andrew has refused to entertain the idea of relocating to a different residence. What's more, the disgraced royal has reportedly insisted stubbornly on his right to stay at the property, thanks to a "cast-iron" lease that covers him through 2078, which he insists means King Charles doesn't have right to evict him.

On his The Royalist substack, royal expert Tom Sykes wrote confidently, however, Prince Andrew will move out of Royal Lodge and the issue is a matter of “when not if” he will leave, sources told The Royalist.

Sykes went on to cite a former courtier who has maintained close links to the Palace who said an announcement about the matter could be just around the corner, potentially coming as soon as today (Friday, October 24).

"He is moving," the courtier insisted to The Royalist. "It’s just a matter of getting the choreography right now.”

This sentiment is echoed in a report from The Guardian, which said the disgraced royal's initial response to pressure to move was to stubbornly dig in his heels

While Andrew’s initial response has been to dig his heels in, the outlet reports that "negotiations are continuing with a growing sense of inevitability that he will now move out," and that royal sources saw a “renewed determination" to force him out.

Other than the occasional glimpses on Instagram, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry keep their two kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, out of the spotlight. But on Thursday, October 23, the Duchess of Sussex shared some insights into her life at home with Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, during an event at Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, California.

Meghan was on hand to support her college friend Courtney Adamo, who was promoting her new book, The Family Home—and the book's theme prompted the duchess to share some of her own rituals at her Montecito home.

"First thing I do when I wake up in the morning is turn the music on in the house," Meghan shared. The Duchess of Sussex also spoke about how she likes to ask her kids about the high and low points of their day through a "rose and thorn" routine, which Lilibet seems to be especially enthusiastic about.

"Our daughter, she's four, and she's a very strong personality and she's incredible," Meghan said. "And now she's in this moment where I say, 'What's your rose and your thorn?' And she goes, 'My day was just a blast!'"

The duchess also told the audience at Godmothers about their "healing blanket," a gift from the store's co-founder, Victoria Jackson. Meghan shared that Archie and Lilibet cuddle with the cozy blanket when they aren't feeling well.

With the holidays coming up, Lilibet and Archie are surely getting ready for plenty of family fun. When hosting, Meghan said that she likes to greet guests while wearing an "apron" and no shoes. "It demystifies," she said. "People walk in and go, ‘Oh, she’s in this with me.’ And what are they drawn to? Your kitchen. They come right in, and suddenly everyone’s a little bit softened."

Last fall, the duchess told Marie Claire that "every year it gets better" celebrating Christmas with her kids. "At first, I think as a mom with children you’re just enjoying having them there, but they’re not understanding everything that’s happening yet," she said. "But now we’re at the age where I just can’t wait to see it through their lens every year."

Following her appearance at the Mental Health Day Festival in New York City, Duchess Meghan took to Instagram to share new footage of her daughter Princess Lilibet, along with a sweet mother-daughter snap. The Duchess of Sussex also promised to protect Lilibet's rights, no matter what.

On Saturday, October 11, Meghan Markle shared a new Instagram post in honor of International Day of the Girl. She shared a short video clip of Lilibet running around in their garden, along with a photo of mother and daughter holding hands.

"To all the girls—this world is yours," the caption explained. "Do everything you can to protect your rights, use your voice, support each other. We will do the same for you." Meghan continued, "It's your right and our responsibility." The royal completed her caption by writing, "Go get 'em girl!"

In the sweet photo of Meghan and Lilibet, the little princess could be seen wearing a pink T-shirt with a pair of leggings, and holding her beloved Jellycat Amuseable Rainbow Bag, which retails for $40. Princess Charlotte is also a huge fan of the cute and cuddly brand—a fact dad Prince William has spoken about on multiple occasions.

On October 10, Duchess Meghan attended the Mental Health Day Festival, which was organized by Project Healthy Minds. Taking to the stage, the Duchess of Sussex introduced a panel titled, "How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an International Mental Health Crisis, And How We Can Reverse It." While speaking to the audience, Meghan called the topic "one of the most urgent questions facing families today: what's happening to childhood and how and what do we do to allow our children to just be children."

For the event, Duchess Meghan wore her blue and white Ralph Lauren Collection Capri Relaxed Fit Striped Cotton Shirt, which retails for $790. She previously wore the shirt to attend Wimbledon alongside Kate Middleton in 2018. The Duchess of Sussex's accessories included a brown Ralph Lauren Slide Buckle Leather Belt.

While Meghan's style continues to be an inspiration to many, Princess Lilibet's rainbow bag is sure to start its own trend.

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Throughout her life, Princess Diana was a subject of fascination for tabloid newspapers and paparazzi photographers. As a result, she was regularly reported on, which she was very much aware of, according to her former hairdresser. In fact, Princess Diana allegedly "smuggled" tabloids into the palace because she wanted to find out what was being written about her.

In an interview with People, former royal hairdresser Richard Dalton said of Princess Diana, "She wasn't allowed to see the tabloid newspapers." Despite some strict royal rules being put in place, the former Princess of Wales reportedly found a way to circumvent the restrictions.

Dalton shared with the outlet, "One of the hairdressers smuggled them in...Did I say that? They were smuggled in, but it's not to do with me."

Recalling Princess Diana's requests, Dalton explained, "She used to say, 'Richard, can you bring them in for me?'" He continued, "Nobody questioned it because nobody knew. Once I'd got through security and into the pantry, it was all plain sailing from there."

According to the hairstylist, Diana would voraciously read articles written about the Royal Family, even though many ultimately "annoyed" her. "I'd be doing her hair, she'd be flipping through the pages [of a tabloid], and she'd go, 'Ugh'...then throw it to the side," the former hairstylist recalled.

Dalton continued, "Then another one comes along and then [she'd go], 'Ohhhhhh.'"

The former royal hairdresser also highlighted the fact that a ton of stories were written about Prince Harry's parentage.

"They always [went] on about, 'Is Charles the father of Harry?'" Dalton recalled. "Of course he is." The hairstylist was quick to point to the multiple members of the Spencer family who had red hair, just like Prince Harry.

Even though she was technically forbidden from reading stories about herself, Princess Diana reportedly had quite the appetite for the tabloids.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are privy to certain privileges as members of the Royal Family. Case in point: when HBO built elements of the new Harry Potter set in Windsor Great Park, Kate Middleton and Prince William's kids were lucky enough to get an invite.

As reported by the Daily Mail, "Hogsmeade Station was built on Windsor Great Park," which is conveniently close to Kate and William's new home, Forest Lodge. On Friday, September 26, "Kate took Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis for a spellbinding visit where they met the cast," the outlet reported.

According to the publication, the visit "would have been a magical evening for the young royals who are huge fans of the movies."

Describing the incredible event, a royal source told the Daily Mail, "It was so special, Kate and the children met the young actors and the director on the set. There was only one night of filming there so it really was a magical ticket."

The source continued, "And as for Louis, he got the chance to ride on the train with the driver. He seemed to absolutely love it. It's the dream for most children to step aboard the Hogwarts Express." Clearly, being a child of the future king has some benefits.

A source also revealed that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's children visited the set, too. "They were busy looking at the Hogwarts Express and it genuinely seemed like a magical time for them," the source explained.

Earlier this week, royal biographer Christopher Andersen opened up about George, Charlotte, and Louis's upbringing in an interview with Harper's BAZAAR. "[Kate and William] pretty much lavish equal attention on all three, while at the same time nurturing their distinct and different personalities," the expert noted.

During a brief visit to the U.K., Prince Harry reunited with his formerly estranged father, King Charles, for a "private tea" at Clarence House in London. Following their reunion, the Duke of Sussex told reporters that his dad was "great." Now, Harry has opened up about the long-awaited "reconciliation" in a new interview, and shared just how important it was to meet with his father, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024.

In a Sept. 14 interview with The Guardian, the royal raised awareness about the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine, and also touched on his own personal life. "I have always loved the U.K. and I always will love the U.K.," Harry told the outlet. "It's been good to reconnect with the causes I am passionate about. I have been able to spend some time with people that I have known for so long. It is hard to do it from far away."

Although the Duke of Sussex declined to discuss his private meeting with Charles, he told The Guardian that—looking ahead to the next year—"the focus really has to be on my dad." And when asked whether he hoped to bring his children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet—to visit family members in the U.K., Harry said, "Yes I would. This week has definitely brought that closer."

The interview also gave Prince Harry a chance to hit back at his critics, as he told the outlet, "I think parts of the British press want to believe that I am miserable, but I'm not. I am very happy with who I am and I like the life that I live."

However, that doesn't mean Harry's life is always smooth sailing. "I have certainly had to deal with some very stressful events over the last four years," the Duke of Sussex noted. "There has been the uncertainty and stress of the litigation and finding out certain things that have really, really hurt."

As for his decision to write his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry explained how important it was to set the record straight about certain events in his life. "I don't believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public," the duke explained. "It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear."

Essentially, Prince Harry is looking ahead to the future now, telling The Guardian, "you cannot have reconciliation before you have truth." Hopefully, the royal's recent U.K. visit is the first of many.

On Sept. 8, Prince Harry returned to the U.K., where he paid tribute to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Duke of Sussex will also attend a number of important engagements during the trip, and is rumored to reunite with his father, King Charles. Plus, according to one of Harry's friends, the prince hasn't "given up hope" when it comes to bringing his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to England in the future.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, one of Prince Harry's close friends explained, "He's not given up hope on bringing his family back to the [United Kingdom]. He wants to be able to show his children where he grew up. He wants them to know their family here." The source continued, "He really would like to come back to the U.K. much more."

The friend also told the newspaper that Prince Harry hopes to "to have some fun" during his current visit.

Prince Harry lost his court battle regarding the removal of his private security earlier this year. Since then, the Duke of Sussex has expressed the very credible fear he has about traveling to the U.K. with his wife and young children.

In May 2025, he told the BBC, "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious." He continued, "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point."

As for whether or not Prince Harry will reunite with his dad, King Charles, during his current trip, one of the duke's friends told The Sunday Times, "He's made it absolutely clear he wants a reconciliation with his family. It's on them now."

Back in June, it was reported that Prince George would be attending Eton College. Although an official announcement is yet to be made by the Royal Family, further rumors about George's schooling have started to circulate. Notably, Kate Middleton and Prince William's son has reportedly been "allocated a house" at Eton, in spite of the fact his parents have been "plagued by indecision."

According to the Daily Mail, "George has been allocated a house at Eton College," with the outlet revealing, "Eton has 25 houses, including the main college where the prestigious King's Scholars—the brightest academic pupils—are housed." The publication continued, "The others...include Angelo's, The Hopgarden, Cotton Hall House, and Hawtrey House...Each accommodates around 50 boys, with 10 from each year, which encourages pupils to mix with other age groups."

Prince George's father, Prince William, and uncle Prince Harry "both lived in Manor House, which was founded in the early 18th century," the publication noted.

Despite seemingly confirming the young prince's attendance at Eton, which the Daily Mail called a "clear front-runner" for George's schooling, Kate and William have reportedly remained "plagued by indecision." The outlet suggested "leadership changes" as one of the main reasons Kate and William had been "uncertain if Eton is right for their eldest child."

Meanwhile, a source told the outlet, "Eton has been going through much transition lately so that's perhaps why it wasn't an easy decision." The insider continued, "There has been a lot going on that isn't public knowledge but which Catherine would, of course, have been informed of."

Basically, George's mother has reportedly been doing all of the due diligence needed in order to plan her son's future. "She has been wise to wait and observe for a few more months for things to settle down," the source explained. However, until an official announcement is made by the Royal Family, the general public won't have final confirmation regarding Prince George's education.

Just about everything Kate Middleton does receives a ton of attention from the general public. While her fashion choices are regularly scrutinized and replicated, Princess Kate's actions during official royal engagements have also come under the microscope. Case in point: her recent visit to Colchester Hospital, where she made a strange request regarding her hands.

On July 2, the Princess of Wales made a solo appearance at the Royal Horticultural Society's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital. As well as borrowing Meghan Markle's style for the visit, Princess Kate received praise from royal fans for an "unusual request" she made, per the Express.

The Princess of Wales planted some roses in the garden during the engagement, and she was offered a pair of gardening gloves to protect her hands. However, Kate asked if she could plant the roses without wearing the gloves, saying she wanted to "feel the earth," the Express reported.

Princess Kate's decision to forgo gardening gloves was appreciated by royal fans, who commented on an Instagram post shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales's official account.

"I absolutely love that she's digging in the garden without gloves and that her bouncy curls have fallen flat and are frizzy by the end of the video," one fan commented on the post. "Not the typical stuffy prim and proper royal video...there's a beautiful human element to it."

Another person commented on the video, "I love that HRH gets right down into the earth. No gloves, no care about dirt on her knees, she really connects to the earth and it's so healing for her." Yet another royal fan simply wrote, "I loved seeing her hands."

For the engagement, Princess Kate looked chic in a Ralph Lauren Collection "Capri" Poplin Striped Button-Down Shirt in Moss/White, which retails for $790. A pair of her favorite Veja Esplar Sneakers in White/Rose Gold were the ideal footwear for an outdoor engagement.

The Princess of Wales completed her outfit with a BLAZÉ Milano Wind Hunter Charmer Blazer in Pinstripe.

Prince Louis might have stayed at home again this year, but Prince George and Princess Charlotte joined their parents at the Wimbledon men's final on Sunday, July 13—and it turns out the royal kids are "all right" tennis players themselves. While meeting British men's doubles champions Lloyd Glaspool and Julian Cash, Prince George—who is rarely heard speaking in public— commented on his own tennis abilities.

"Do you two play tennis?" Cash asked the kids in a video shared by The Royal Family Channel on YouTube. George and Charlotte both smiled and said "yes," and when Cash asked if they were "good," George looked at mom Princess Kate and shrugged, replying, "I'm all right."

It seems like his comment might be an understatement, as Prince George has been taking tennis lessons since he was around five and has actually played the sport with none other than Roger Federer. Princess Kate revealed the tidbit during a visit to the tennis championships in 2019 (via Hello!), sharing that Federer was her young son's favorite player.

"I love to see that they're into tennis or into sports," Federer told the media at the time (Via Tatler). "His mum has always enjoyed their tennis. I hope that he'll still say the same in a few years' time."

The Wales family has their own tennis court at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, so Prince George and his siblings will certainly have plenty of time to practice this summer.

As for the rest of their Wimbledon outing, both George—dressed in a smart navy suit and striped tie—and Charlotte—wearing bespoke Sarah Burton for Givenchy—looked disappointed after Carlos Alcaraz lost to Jannik Sinner. However, the Wales family got the opportunity to speak with Sinner after the match and get their tennis balls signed.

“We brought one for their brother as well,” the Princess of Wales said (via People), with Prince William adding with a laugh, "Louis would be very upset otherwise."

Meghan Markle shared her July 4 plans with fans, including the sweet tradition her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have been continuing. The Duchess of Sussex also posted an Instagram Story revealing the cocktail party she was hosting in honor of the holiday, and she wore a chic two-piece matching set for the occasion, along with one of Princess Diana's most iconic pieces of jewelry.

Duchess Meghan is a fan of Farm Rio's designs, so it makes sense she'd enlist a matching set by the brand for July 4. The former Suits star paired the brand's Off-White Delicate Tapestry Knit Top in blue and white with a matching Tapestry Knit Skirt. Although the two items have started selling out, certain sizes remain available online.

The As ever founder accessorized her sleek matching set with Logan Hollowell's $5,875 Call On Your Angels Diamond Angel Eye Coin Necklace in Yellow Gold. She also wore her gold Cartier Tank Française Watch—which belonged to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana—a gold Cartier Love Bracelet, and her Lorraine Schwartz Diamond Pinky Ring.

Last but most certainly not least, the duchess wore Princess Diana's Heirloom Diamond Bracelet. The diamond tennis-style bracelet has been worn by Meghan on numerous occasions, including when she appeared at the TIME 100 Summit in April.

On July 4, Duchess Meghan shared an Instagram post revealing the adorable tradition Archie and Lilibet were continuing each year. "Our second date was the 4th of July 2016 and H brought me cupcakes to celebrate," she wrote in the caption. "Now, all these years later, our two children are in on the tradition."

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's love story has been well-documented, with the pair tying the knot in a fairytale royal wedding on May 19, 2018. Since then, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have moved to California and grown their family, welcoming son Prince Archie in May 2019 and daughter Princess Lilibet in June 2021. And on July 4, the Sussex clan celebrated in a special way in honor of Harry and Meghan's second ever date in 2016.

"Our second date was the 4th of July 2016 and H brought me cupcakes to celebrate," Duchess Meghan captioned an Instagram post. "Now, all these years later, our two children are in on the tradition." Photos in the carousel revealed a selfie Meghan and Harry took on their second date, as well as one of the cupcakes the Duke of Sussex gifted his future wife.

"Happy Independence Day!" Meghan wrote. "May your day be as sweet as these cupcakes." In another photo, a plate of cupcakes appeared to be held by one of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children, showing how the family tradition is being continued.

Prince Harry previously opened up about the significance of July 4 in his relationship with Meghan. After arriving late for their first date on July 3, the Duke of Sussex pulled out all the stops the following night by purchasing gifts for the former Suits star. Writing in his memoir Spare, Harry revealed (via People), "She walked in, wearing a pretty blue sundress with white pinstripes. She was aglow. I stood and said: I bear gifts. A pink box. I held it forward. She shook it. What's this?"

Recalling the important evening, Harry explained, "She opened the box. Cupcakes. Red, white, and blue cupcakes, to be exact. In honor of Independence Day." He continued, "I said something about the Brits having a very different view of Independence Day from the Yanks, but, oh, well."

A good sun hat is a summer necessity, as Princess Kate knows. The Princess of Wales wore the perfect floppy hat while taking in the 2022 Wimbledon championships, shading her face with a chic straw style by L.K. Bennett. But this summer, the royal-favorite retailer has restocked the sunny day essential—and the timing couldn't be better.

Princess Kate first wore the wide-brimmed, ribbon-trimmed hat to cheer on the men's doubles competition in July 2022. Although Kate, dressed in a cheerful yellow Roksanda dress, didn't wear her floppy style to present the trophy, the then-Duchess of Cambridge smartly protected herself from the sun in the stands. Of course, the Kate Effect ensured the sun hat was a swift sellout, so imagine my delight when I stumbled upon it in the L.K. Bennett pop-up shop at Royal Ascot earlier this month.

As Kate proved with her Wimbledon look, the hat is perfect for a day of royal outings, as I discovered during a very sunny afternoon awaiting the carriage arrivals in Windsor Great Park and on the hottest day of the year at Windsor Castle.

Bonus: the hat is easily packable, something I wouldn't have assumed if the woman at the L.K. Bennett pop-up hadn't folded it up into an adorable Royal Ascot-themed tote. Despite being shoved into my suitcase, the hat emerged unscathed after traveling back to the States, so I can absolutely recommend it for your own summer travels.

As for the Princess of Wales's Wimbledon plans this year, she is expected to make an appearance during the championships, which started Monday, June 30 and run through July 13. Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson kicked off the Wimbledon action on Monday, with the royals dressed in a stripey Sandro skirt set and a colorful green Me+Em floral midi, respectively.

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Princess Lilibet seems to share a keen sense of style with her royal cousin, Princess Charlotte. In December 2024, Lilibet wore a very Princess Charlotte-coded dress for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Christmas card photo. Now, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 4-year-old daughter has been seen carrying a bag—akin to an emotional support accessory—from the favorite toy brand of her royal cousin.

Sharing an Instagram video, in which Lilibet makes a cameo, Duchess Meghan wrote, "A little behind the scenes of @aseverofficial." She continued, "Hope you enjoy your treats when they arrive this week!" Alongside clips of Meghan preparing food for guests, Princess Lilibet could be seen collecting wild fruit from the garden with her mom.

Perhaps most importantly, for her Instagram appearance, Lilibet carried Jellycat's Amuseable Rainbow Bag, which retails for $40.

In May, Prince William and Kate Middleton revealed just how much their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—love Jellycat toys.

The Prince and Princess of Wales reunited with the family of teen photographer Liz Hatton, who died in November 2024 due to cancer. At a Buckingham Palace garden party, Liz's brother Mateo handed the royals two Jellycat toys: a small tarte au citron with a smiley face, and a pickled onion with legs. "My children will love these," William said (via the Daily Mail). "They are children's currency."

At the garden party, Mateo told the royals that his sister Liz "would give [Jellycat toys] to people who 'made her happy,'" per the Daily Mail.

As well as seemingly sharing a love of Jellycat toys and bags, Lilibet and Charlotte's names also have a lot in common. The royal cousins both share the middle name Diana, in tribute to their late grandmother, Princess Diana.

When Prince William becomes king, his eldest son, Prince George, will step into the role of heir apparent. As a result, Prince George is growing up with a "massive responsibility" on his shoulders, in the knowledge he'll one day become monarch, too. Following George's kingship lesson on VE Day, at which he attended a special tea party for veterans with his parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, the little royal appears to be growing in confidence.

Dr. Arthur Cassidy, a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, analyzed the young royal's behavior at Trooping the Colour, telling Hello! magazine, "Prince George reveals the positive impact of good posture—his head is held high with an open chest, while his personality type serves to positively reinforce just how vital his childhood and teenage development will be for his future role as monarch."

The expert also noted that George "is very aware of his gestures and expressions" at public events. For instance, at Trooping the Colour, "George has his hands in the clenched overlap position just below his belt, demonstrating a relaxed mode and positive self-confidence," Dr. Cassidy explained.

Discussing the significance of Prince George attending a VE Day tea party alongside his parents, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror, "[A]t big events like this, he looks as if he is taking it all in, and understanding that his life will be punctuated by national occasions where his will be a key role."

Bond also noted the importance of meeting World War II veterans, saying that 2025's VE Day tea party "may be the only opportunity George will ever have of speaking to men and women who served their King and country during the war."

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are growing up in the public eye, but that doesn't mean they'll lack manners. In fact, the Duchess of Sussex wants to ensure her two children recognize and appreciate the immense privilege they have. In a wide-ranging podcast appearance, Duchess Meghan elaborated on how she's raising Archie and Lilibet in Montecito, California.

During her appearance on the June 17 episode of the podcast Aspire with Emma Grede, Duchess Meghan revealed that she uses gardening to instill certain values in Archie and Lilibet. "There's a cost and a price for things, and I think that's key for children to understand, especially children who are very lucky to have a home, that has privilege, you need to know that just like manners, and taking care of the things around you, there is a value on things," The Duchess of Sussex explained (via the Express).

Discussing some of her parenting techniques, Meghan told Grede—Good American's co-founder, and a founding partner of Skims—"Gardening is really, really so great for children because it teaches them patience and teaches them to value and appreciate their food."

Meghan also highlighted how involved she is in her children's lives, which includes ensuring they eat healthy food. "The kids are down to bed at like 7ish," the Duchess of Sussex explained. "I can go downstairs, have a glass of wine, [and] I'm doing their little lunch. I find joy in it for whatever reason and it can be therapeutic. That, for me, is one of my simple pleasures."

Duchess Meghan continued, "This is such a key age. I don't want to miss a moment for my children, and I love that I can do drop off and pick up at school, and do meetings in between, and go to Disneyland for two days, as we just did."

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's daughter, Princess Lilibet, turned 4 on June 4, 2025. In honor of Lilibet's birthday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with son Prince Archie, took a family trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Duchess Meghan shared an adorable Instagram post featuring photos and videos from the trip, which paid tribute to Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, in a special way.

Meghan captioned the post, "Thank you @disneyland for giving our family two days of pure joy!" The Sussexes could be seen riding multiple attractions at Disneyland, including Tiana's Bayou Adventure, formerly known as Splash Mountain.

Princess Diana took sons Harry and William to Disneyworld in Florida in August 1993, where they rode Splash Mountain. "The trio was treated to an exclusive ride on Splash Mountain, which was closed off to other guests," People reported. "Diana and the boys were escorted through Disney's secret underground tunnels for VIPs, accompanied by close friends and security."

A waiter who worked at Disneyland during Diana's visit told People, "They were all very nice, very well behaved. She was a sweetheart."

Princess Diana was photographed with her sons at several different amusement parks throughout the years. The former Princess of Wales appeared to have a strong sense of fun, and was seen laughing while riding a log flume alongside William and Harry in August 1990.

It appears as though Meghan and Harry are raising Archie and Lilibet with the very same sense of fun Princess Diana instilled in her children.

On June 4, Meghan posted a sweet tribute to daughter Lilibet on her 4th birthday. "Happy birthday to our beautiful girl!" the Duchess of Sussex wrote on Instagram. "Four years ago today she came into our lives - and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!"