Meghan Markle’s baby Archie Harrison will NOT have a royal title, palace confirms
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle’s baby will NOT have a royal title, the palace has confirmed.
The new royal baby is called Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and will not have a Royal title, Meghan and Harry announced today on their Instagram account.
The proud parents revealed the boy’s name with an accompanying picture of him meeting his great-grandma The Queen for the first time, alongside Prince Philip and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.
It came a few hours after the beaming couple showed off Archie to the world for the first time in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Hall, where they married a little over a year ago.
‘PRIVATE CITIZEN’
Archie will be known as a ‘Master’ after Harry and Meghan decided not to give him one of Duke of Sussex’s lesser titles, the Earl of Dumbarton.
This is a signal the couple want their child to be a ‘private citizen’ and he will not have a Royal title.
Harry, who has admitted he once “wanted out” of the royal family, has spoken in the past of how he was always more comfortable being Captain Wales in the Army than being Prince Harry.
It is unclear why they chose the name Archie with royal sources saying: ‘They may have just liked the name’, indicating it may be another sign of the fiercely independent couple wishing to break with tradition.
NAME GAME
Archie means “genuine”, “bold” and “brave”, and is German in origin.
Short for Archibald, it is now given as a name in its own right.
Harrison means “son of Harry” so is likely to be a tribute to the duke.
It is English in origin and famous Harrisons include the Star Wars actor Harrison Ford.
The new name could cause confusion among the royals as Prince George revealed his nickname was Archie when he started chatting to a dog walker earlier this year, The Sun revealed.
Royal fans were left surprised by the royal couple’s choice of name.
While the name proved a hit among most punters, there were a few who were disappointed not to see Harry and Meghan pay tribute to Princess Diana.
Taking to Twitter one wrote: “I wish one of the royal babies would be named Spencer. I’m not a fan of Archie…but I do like Harrison.”
Agreeing another added: “I think Archie’s quite a cute name, though I was expecting a Spencer chucked in there somewhere.”
“Archie. Meh. I was hoping for a Spencer”, tweeted a third.
Among the bookmakers’ favourites were Alexander, Arthur, Albert, as well as James and Philip, while Spencer was a late favourite, but Archie was 100-1.
The couple’s @SussexRoyal Instagram account announced: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pleased to announce they have named their first born child: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
“This afternoon Their Royal Highnesses introduced Her Majesty The Queen to her eighth great-grandchild at Windsor Castle. The Duke of Edinburgh and The Duchess’ mother were also present for this special occasion.”
Harry and Meghan’s first born, who is seventh in line to the throne, made his world debut with his besotted parents at Windsor Castle this morning.
The new parents appeared tired but ecstatic as they cradled baby Archie, with mum Meghan gushing “I have the best two guys in the world”.
And giddy bearded dad Harry, who cradled his son tightly throughout, joked the baby “already has facial hair”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s low key announcement today was in stark contrast to Kate Middleton and Prince William’s baby reveals that saw hundreds of photographers snap pictures of their three children hours after they were born.
By contrast Meghan and Harry only had one photographer, a reporter and three cameras in the intimate interview at St George’s Hall.
What’s the latest….
- New parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle today revealed their “amazing” baby boy
- The baby has been named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
- Adorable photos show the little boy has the same nose as his mum Meghan
- The former actress appeared to be ‘protective’ and feeling ‘slight inhibitions’ about showing off her baby, a body language expert claimed
- He was swaddled in an iconic blanket – a brand used for all new royal babies since the Queen gave birth
- The former actress stunned in a white Grace Wales Bonner trench dress for the intimate photo call at St George’s Hall in Windsor
- She was praised for showing off her postpartum bump in the photocall today – following the footsteps of Kate Middleton
- Baby Sussex was born 5.26am on Monday, weighing in at 7lb 3oz
- Prince William and Kate Middleton welcomed the couple to the “sleep deprivation society”
- The Queen also exclaimed she had eight great-grandchildren as she was congratulated on
KEEP UP-TO-DATE: Follow our live blog for all the latest on Baby Sussex
The new parents kept their sleeping baby boy swaddled in a traditional merino wool blanket from royal favourites GH Hurt & Son and hat as they gushed over their son.
New mum Meghan, 37, kept a watchful eye over her baby boy, saying: “It’s magic.
“It’s pretty amazing. I have the best two guys in the world, so I’m really happy.”
And she said baby Archie, who is just two days old, already had the “sweetest temperament” – with Harry interjecting: “I don’t know who he gets that from!”
The loving parents couldn’t keep their eyes off Archie, with Meghan putting a hand on her “dream” newborn as doting dad Harry held him tight.
She added: “It’s been a special couple of days.”
Asked who the baby took after, Harry said it was too early to tell.
“Everyone says that babies change so much over two weeks,” said the 34-year-old prince. “We’re basically monitoring how the changing process happens over this next month really. But his looks are changing every single day, so who knows..
Gazing at his son, Harry said: “Parenting is amazing. It’s only been what – two and a half days, three days – but we are just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy and to be able to spend some precious times with him as he slowly starts to grow up.”
It’s pretty amazing. I have the best two guys in the world, so I’m really happy
Meghan Markle
In a touching moment as the new parents walked away from the cameras, Meghan put her arm around her “two guys”.
The location chosen for the couple to reveal their baby boy was a nod to their wedding – having held their reception at St George’s Hall in May last year.
They later shared photographs – including black and white images – on Instagram, taken by photographer Chris Allerton, who snapped their Christmas card.
The social media post read: “Today The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are delighted to share their first public moment as a family.
“They are so incredibly grateful for the warm wishes and support they’ve received from everyone around the world, since welcoming their son two days ago.”
Harry and Meghan had reportedly spent a “peaceful and emotional” first night with their baby on Monday at Frogmore Cottage.
It comes after it was revealed the American network CBS was among the small contingent of media to attend the extremely limited first photocall today.
The original plan was to have two TV cameras, one photographer and one reporter.
However, a pool camera from CBS was also added at the couple’s insistence.
CBS’s morning show is fronted by Meghan’s close friend Gayle King, who was a guest at her lavish New York baby shower in February.
Amid criticism from the Queen’s former spokesman Dickie Aribter, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “This reflects the international interest in the story.”
WHAT'S IN THE NAME?
Archie means “genuine”, “bold” and “brave”, and is German in origin.
Short for Archibald, it is now given as a name in its own right.
Famous Archies include the actress Archie Panjabi, who starred in The Good Wife.
Archie Andrews is the main character in Archie comics in America and also the Netflix show Riverdale, while Archie Mitchell was a villain in the BBC soap EastEnders.
Harrison means “son of Harry” so is likely to be a tribute to the duke.
It is English in origin and famous Harrisons include the Star Wars actor Harrison Ford.
Archie was the 18th most popular name for boys in England and Wales in 2017, according to the latest available figures from the Office for National Statistics.
It has experienced a dramatic rise in popularity since 1996 when it was only in 192nd place.
Some 2,803 baby boys were named Archie in England and Wales in 2017.
In Scotland, Archie was the 17th most popular name for boys in 2018, according to the National Records of Scotland.
Meghan had initially hoped to give birth at the couple’s newly renovated home of Frogmore Cottage.
However the new parents were forced to make a secret hospital dash to give birth to their 7lb 3oz baby boy at 5.26am on Monday.
Sources said the operation to get Meghan – who was a week overdue – to the clinic was so secret that even senior royals weren’t told.
And the Royal Family yesterday all revealed their excitement at the newest addition.
Prince William and Kate Middleton yesterday said they were “thrilled” at the news – with big brother William happy to welcome Harry to the “sleep deprivation society”.
Asked if he had any pearls of wisdom for Harry, dad-of-three William laughed and said: “Plenty of advice, plenty of advice.
“But no, I wish him all the best and I hope the next few days they can settle down and enjoy having a newborn in their family and the joys that come with that.”
Meanwhile, grandfather Prince Charles joked he was collecting a “rather large number” of grandchildren.
The 70-year-old was gifted a teddy bear and blue balloon as he arrived in Germany with wife Camilla yesterday.
The Prince of Wales said he was absolutely “delighted”.
'World-class' birthing unit
The Duchess of Sussex may have planned a home birth but London’s exclusive Portland Hospital was a savvy back-up option.
Meghan was following in the footsteps of pal Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell and Fergie, Duchess of York, in giving birth at the Regents Park unit, where a basic delivery costs upwards of £15,000.
Harry will have been pleased to hear that partners are able to stay overnight with breakfast ‘at no extra charge’ – though it sounds like the new parents dashed back to Frogmore House as soon as they could.
It’s not clear the Duchess would have been there long enough to enjoy it, but new mums are promised hotel-style treatment – with an en-suite bathroom, air con and high-quality meals all thrown into the pricey plan.
MOST READ IN NEWS
The Queen, who was the first to be told of Baby Sussex’s arrival, also revealed her pleasure at welcoming her eighth great grandchild.
The 93-year-old monarch smiled as she was congratulated on the newest member of the Royal Family.
She was yesterday joined by husband Prince Philip – a rare appearance for the Duke of Edinburgh since he retired from public life and his first since being involved in a car crash in January.
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