Annie Walton Doyle
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle fans have been left outraged by royals ‘disrespecting’ Archie on his 5th birthday.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stand out as the most controversial figures within the royal family – they’ve stepped down as senior royals and departed from tradition.
Since leaving their duties behind, Prince Harry and Markle have used their platform to connect with others through public service endeavours.
The couple are also parenting two young children – their eldest Archie having just celebrated his fifth birthday.
While the Duke and Duchess’ fans have taken to social media and wished the couple’s son a happy birthday, people have pointed out that he’s been ‘disrespected’ by the royals.
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The Duke and Duchess commemorated their son’s fifth birthday on Monday.
Archie was likely surrounded by his parents, his sister Lilibet, and his grandmother, Doria Ragland.
While specific plans for the young royal’s birthday haven’t been shared, if past celebrations are anything to go by, it will likely be a modest affair.
Last year, Archie reportedly celebrated his fourth birthday at home.
The royal’s older cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, typically have their birthdays marked with new photographs on the royals’ social media profiles.
For instance, it was Princess Charlotte’s birthday on May 2 and on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram, they posted: “Happy 9th Birthday, Princess Charlotte! Thank you for all of the kind messages today.”
But Archie hasn’t been wished a happy birthday by the royals on social media – and people are outraged about it.
One person comments on social media: “Absolutely disgusting. If the royal family snubs this little boy’s birthday.”
In agreement, another adds: “They are better off without them….happy birthday little one.”
“If they have that’s disgusting. You do not involve kids in adult disputes!” somebody else writes.
A fourth person says: “That’s disgusting. That’s a child, he doesn’t deserve to be treated like that, he is not to be blamed. Well, that’s not nice.”
Others have taken to social media and suggested that the royal family hasn’t snubbed Archie at all.
“So they haven’t posted on social media for the world to see. It doesn’t mean cards, gifts and calls haven’t happened in private,” one person points out.
A second says: “My gut says that the King has called or video called to wish his grandson a happy birthday… I just hope as a grandfather (not as a King) Charles and Camilla privately reached out to their grandson Archie and wished him a happy 5th birthday.”
Somebody else simply pens: “I don’t believe the King would do this.”
While some may argue it’s ‘disgusting’ that Archie hasn’t publicly been wished a happy birthday, there’s an important reason behind the royal family’s move.
Birthday messages are typically reserved for working members of the royal family when it comes to their official social media accounts.
HELLO!‘s Online Royal Correspondent Danielle Stacey says this practice has been observed particularly since King Charles‘ reign commenced.
“In recent years and certainly since King Charles III’s reign began in September 2022, we have only seen public messages from the royal family’s social media accounts for working members of the royal family, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal,” the expert explains.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020, and no longer carry out royal duties. Similarly, the palace doesn’t typically share messages on the likes of Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall’s birthdays nor their children’s special days.”
The royal family previously extended birthday greetings to the Sussexes. An example is the late Queen conveying her birthday wishes to Markle shortly after her move to America.
“Wishing The Duchess of Sussex a very happy birthday,” she expressed on the royal family’s Instagram account.
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