Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn’t move to the US alone; their young son, Prince Archie, accompanied them on their move to Canada. By 2021, they had settled into their lavish mansion in Montecito, California, and welcomed their daughter, Princess Lilibet.

Archie and Lilibet, despite being very young, have been frequent topics of discussion. Recently, Lilibet turned three, but no members of the Royal Family reportedly attended her party. The future relationships between Archie and Lilibet and their UK-based cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, are still uncertain. Rumors suggest that King Charles is keen on being more involved in his grandchildren’s lives.

As Archie gears up for kindergarten and Lilibet for preschool, the couple has begun searching for schools, attracting criticism and being called “frauds” by one US journalist.

Harry and Meghan’s move to the US was motivated by a desire for privacy, away from the royal spotlight and media scrutiny. They reportedly realized shortly after their wedding that they didn’t want to remain in the royal fold long-term.

With Archie’s birth in 2019, the couple was already striving for more privacy, distancing themselves from the public royal role.

In her book, “The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown,” royal expert Katie Nicholl described Harry as “almost morbidly obsessed” with keeping Archie’s birth as secretive as possible, which deviated from royal norms.

Despite public interest in their son, Harry and Meghan’s wish for secrecy was often ignored, considered by some as part of the “unwritten contract between the royals and the public.”

Rebecca English, royal editor of the Daily Mail, noted the severe frustration behind the scenes, with some officials reduced to tears due to the tensions.

Typically, royal parents present themselves on the hospital steps for photos and brief interviews post-birth. Harry and Meghan, in contrast, chose a different path, avoiding media exposure at Archie’s birth by relocating to Portland Hospital, known for its stricter privacy measures.

While previous royal births occurred at St Mary’s Hospital, Meghan opted for Portland Hospital under her physician’s care, ensuring a private environment.

An additional benefit was the hospital’s design made photography difficult. Nicholl’s book details how the Sussexes enjoyed outsmarting the media, successfully welcoming their son at Portland without media getting wind of the labor in real time.

Lilibet’s birth in California was markedly different, with no paparazzi presence. However, Harry and Meghan soon reintroduced their children to the public eye, bestowing royal titles upon them.

This decision sparked debate, with royal commentator Angela Levin expressing concern over the potential burden these titles place on the young children.

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Levin argued that Lilibet might struggle with the title’s implications, considering her parents’ critical stance on the monarchy.

She suggested that the title could complicate Lilibet’s life, especially in social settings where she would be the only real princess among her peers, potentially leading to jealousy.

As Archie turned five in May and Lilibet recently turned three, the absence of royal relatives at their celebrations was notable. Only Princess Eugenie has reportedly visited them in California.

Despite his strained ties with Harry and Meghan, King Charles is reportedly saddened by his limited relationship with Archie and Lilibet, meeting each child only a handful of times. The King’s cancer diagnosis has made him even more aware of the precious time to bond with his grandchildren.

Royal expert Ingrid Seward highlighted the King’s desire to forge a closer relationship with Archie and Lilibet, underscoring that family has always been of great importance to him.

Meghan revealed real reason why Archie will never attend a UK school

The future for Harry and Meghan’s children remains open-ended. While they might pursue various paths, their parents seem inclined to enroll them in some of the best educational institutions.

Contrary to their UK relatives who attended renowned schools like Gordonstoun and Eton, the Sussexes have decided against UK schooling for Archie due to safety concerns, as Meghan shared with journalist Allison Davis in 2022.

Meghan emphasized the impracticality and invasiveness of UK schooling for Archie, pointing out the inevitable media frenzy.

While Archie and Lilibet have years before secondary or higher education, they are likely to attend schools near their Montecito home for now.

Journalist Rochard Mineards noted Harry and Meghan’s interest in a high-end local private school, with fees reaching up to $60,000. The high cost has drawn criticism, particularly from US journalist Lee Cohen, who accused them of hypocrisy.

Cohen’s critique pointed out the contradiction between their advocacy for equality and their choices for their children’s elite education.