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Royal Divide: Harry and Meghan’s Contrasting Stances on Children’s Public Exposure
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly hold divergent perspectives regarding the public display of their children, Archie and Lilibet. This viewpoint was shared by Matt Wilkinson, royal editor at The Sun, during a discussion on Hello! magazine’s Right Royal podcast. The conversation explored the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s media strategies, particularly Meghan’s approach to social media and its intersection with their family life.
Differing Royal Opinions on Child’s Privacy
Wilkinson’s analysis formed part of a broader discussion on the podcast, which also featured hosts Emmy Griffiths and Andrea Caamano, alongside HELLO!’s royal editor, Emily Nash. The episode delved into Meghan’s social media activity involving her children amidst other topics, including Prince Harry’s recent period of adjustment after stepping back from his Sentebale charity commitments. In contrast, Meghan’s recent ventures, including the launch of her lifestyle brand As Ever, have been met with considerable commercial success, experiencing rapid sell-outs despite mixed critical reception of her Netflix series, ‘With Love, Meghan’.
Meghan Markle’s Increased Social Media Presence
Prior to the debut of her Netflix program and brand launch, Meghan has significantly increased her social media engagement, notably on Instagram. Her online posts have included glimpses of their children, Archie, age five, and Lilibet, age three, sparking commentary on the children’s visibility.
- Recent posts have offered peeks into the children’s lives.
- One post featured Lilibet playing Candy Land with Meghan and Serena Williams.
- Another video showcased Archie’s voice as he assisted Meghan with gardening.
Royal Expert’s Perspective on Prince Harry’s Preference
During the podcast segment, Matt Wilkinson shared his insights into Prince Harry’s potential feelings about the children’s appearances on social media. The royal editor suggested that the Duke of Sussex likely prefers a greater degree of privacy for his children.
‘My understanding is that, up to this point, Harry would have preferred his children to remain largely out of the public eye,’ Wilkinson stated.
He contrasted this with Meghan’s upbringing and preferences: ‘Meghan, having grown up in California, has expressed a desire for a more typical California lifestyle, including taking their children to the beach and engaging in public activities. She does not wish to completely shield them from view.’
Parental Balance: Public Life and Privacy
Wilkinson also pointed out that Meghan, similar to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie with their children, typically avoids showing Archie and Lilibet’s faces in her shared photos and videos. The panel speculated on the future possibility of paparazzi capturing unsolicited images of Archie and Lilibet as they grow older.
Matt Wilkinson reflected: ‘I believe Harry may still perceive the media landscape as it was during his own childhood, but the reality is that the media environment has evolved significantly.’
Social Media Strategy Surrounding Media Ventures
Many of Meghan’s Instagram posts featuring glimpses of Archie and Lilibet coincided with the promotional period leading up to the release of ‘With Love, Meghan’. The video featuring Lilibet and Serena Williams, for instance, was captioned: ‘3 days until the party begins. All are invited @Netflix,’ clearly linking family content with her professional endeavors.
Children’s Cameos on Drew Barrymore Show
Archie and Lilibet also made brief appearances in a video clip shown during Meghan’s appearance on the Drew Barrymore Show in early March. In this episode, the Duchess recounted involving her children in baking hundreds of cookies for the show’s guests.
Baking with Archie and Lilibet
Meghan disclosed on the show that she prepared treats for the entire cast, crew, and audience members. A short video montage displayed her and the children, Archie and Lilibet, participating in the baking preparations. This offered another instance where glimpses of the children were shared in a public context, albeit indirectly related to her media appearances.