Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The siblings have grown up largely away from the intense public attention that surrounded their parents during their years as working members of the British royal family.
Harry and Meghan stepped back from their senior royal roles in 2020 and eventually established their family home in California. As a result, Archie and Lilibet have spent most of their childhood in the United States, with only occasional glimpses shared publicly by their parents.
As of August 2026, Archie is seven and Lilibet is five. Both children hold places in the British line of succession and received their prince and princess titles after their grandfather, King Charles III, became monarch.
Prince Archie
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born on May 6, 2019, at Portland Hospital in London.
His arrival was highly anticipated because he was Harry and Meghan’s first child and the first grandchild born during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II to the couple.
Unlike many royal babies, Archie was not immediately given a prince’s title. Harry and Meghan chose the name Archie Harrison, with the couple later explaining that the name reflected their personal preference rather than a traditional royal naming style.
Archie spent his earliest years in the United Kingdom before moving with his parents to North America.
Following Charles III’s accession to the throne in 2022, Archie became entitled to use the title Prince under rules established by King George V. His title was publicly adopted by the family in 2023.
He is currently sixth in the line of succession to the British throne.
Princess Lilibet
Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born on June 4, 2021, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California.
Her birth was different from her brother’s in one major respect: she was born in the United States and has spent virtually all of her life there.
Her first name has deep royal significance. “Lilibet” was the childhood nickname of Queen Elizabeth II, while “Diana” honors Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana.
Like Archie, Lilibet did not initially use a prince or princess title. After Charles became king, the children became entitled to the styles Prince and Princess.
The Sussex family subsequently began using the titles publicly, including in official references to Lilibet.
She is seventh in the line of succession, immediately behind Archie.
Their Titles
Archie and Lilibet’s royal titles have been the subject of considerable public discussion.
When they were born, neither child was styled as a prince or princess. Their positions changed after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of Charles III.
Under the rules governing the descendants of a sovereign, the children became entitled to the titles Prince and Princess once their grandfather became king.
The titles do not make them working royals. Harry and Meghan stepped down from their roles as senior working members of the royal family, and their children have not been presented as working members of the monarchy.
Their formal surnames also differ from the way royal titles are normally used. The children are known as Archie and Lilibet Sussex publicly, while Mountbatten-Windsor remains part of their legal family naming tradition.
Growing Up in California
Archie and Lilibet have spent much of their childhood in Montecito, California.
Harry and Meghan have made privacy a major priority when it comes to their children. Unlike earlier generations of royal children who were frequently photographed at school events and public engagements, Archie and Lilibet have appeared only occasionally.
Their parents have released selected family photographs and included limited footage of them in projects such as the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan. Even then, the couple have generally controlled when and how their children are seen.
The family’s California lifestyle has allowed the siblings to experience childhood away from the daily scrutiny associated with life inside the British royal household.
Their Family Life
Harry and Meghan have spoken about creating a more private and family-centered environment for their children.
The couple’s home in Montecito has become the center of their family life, with Harry describing aspects of raising their children in California in interviews and public appearances.
The children have also remained connected to their British family heritage. Their names, titles and positions in the succession all reflect their place within the royal family, even though their everyday lives are largely outside the United Kingdom.
A Possible UK Chapter
Recent reports in August 2026 have fueled speculation about a longer period in the United Kingdom for the Sussex family.
Some reports claim that Harry and Meghan are considering spending an extended period in Britain and that schooling arrangements for Archie and Lilibet could form part of those plans.
However, there has been no comprehensive public announcement confirming a permanent family relocation or officially identifying future schools for the children.
Any move would represent a significant change for Archie and Lilibet, who have spent most of their lives in California.
Rare Public Moments
Harry and Meghan have been selective about sharing their children’s lives.
One of the most notable public moments involving Lilibet came through her first birthday celebration in Windsor in June 2022, when the family was visiting Britain for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
Archie and Lilibet have also appeared in family photographs released by their parents, although the images are relatively infrequent compared with the constant coverage traditionally associated with royal children.
That controlled approach reflects Harry and Meghan’s long-standing desire to give their children as normal a childhood as possible.
What Comes Next
At seven and five, Archie and Lilibet are entering important school-age years while continuing to occupy unusual positions within the British royal family.
They are American-raised children with British royal titles, close links to the Sussex family and prominent places in the succession.
For now, their parents appear determined to balance those circumstances with privacy. Whether the family spends more time in Britain in the coming years could give Archie and Lilibet a closer connection to their father’s homeland, but their upbringing in California will remain a defining part of their childhood.
What is certain is that Harry and Meghan’s children occupy a unique place in modern royal history: they are Prince and Princess of the British royal family while growing up primarily outside the United Kingdom and away from the traditional royal spotlight.
