Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their firstborn, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, 2019. Next month, the couple’s son will be turning one.
While first birthdays are always important, it seems like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have to keep Archie’s first birthday very simple. Just like most parts of the world, Los Angeles, where the couple and their son are currently living, is also in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
That being said, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can't throw a huge birthday celebration for Archie’s very important milestone. Until the lockdown is lifted, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their son will have to stay at home.
Many were hoping that Archie will be reuniting with his cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis to celebrate his birthday. But the lockdown is making it impossible for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son to spend time with Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children.
"The hope had been that Archie's first birthday would somehow be marked with some members of the royal family, cousins, grandparents and some godparents in the U.K. when they were over in the UK,” the source said.
But Archie’s first birthday is not the only celebration that is going to be spent in lockdown. In fact, other upcoming royal engagements were canceled.
"I think the hope in royal circles had been that the Sussexes would return to the UK in May, either before or after their attendance at the Invictus Games in The Netherlands next month,” the source said. “They were also due to attend the Queen's Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour on June 13. But with both those events now canceled, and Harry and Meghan holed in California where they are likely to be social distancing for the next few weeks. Archie is set to celebrate his first birthday with only his parents."
Last month, Prince Harry released a video message to announce the cancellation of the Invictus Games due to the global coronavirus pandemic. The Duke of Sussex launched the international adaptive multi-sport event in 2014, where wounded, injured or sick armed service personnel and their associated veterans gather and have a friendly competition.
In his heartfelt message, Prince Harry shared that he understood the disappointment of those who had been training for a long time to compete. However, he pointed out that everyone’s safety and wellbeing are more important during this time of crisis.
