‘Deeply touched’ Prince Harry, Meghan Markle post new pic on Archie’s birthday
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released a new photo of Archie on his second birthday but tributes from other members of the royal family have raised eyebrows. SEE PHOTO HERE.
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Meghan Markle has said family life is “magic”, adding that she has the “two best guys in the world” as son Archie celebrated his second birthday.
It comes as the Sussexes released a new image of their son holding balloons on his birthday.
In two posts on their official Archewell site, Meghan said, “It’s magic. I have the two best guys in the world, so I’m really happy.”
“The moment you become a father everything really does change because then you start to realise, well, what is the point in bringing a new person into this world when they get to your age and it’s on fire?” added Prince Harry.
“We can’t steal their future. We really can’t. That’s not the job we’re here for. I’ve always believed that hopefully we can leave the world in a better place than when we found it.”
The couple added, “Bubba, Big Brother, happy birthday to you,” ending the post with a heart emoji.
In a separate post, the couple said they were “deeply touched” by the support they have received as a family in honour of Archie’s birthday.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are celebrating their son turning two from their home in California – and have asked wellwishers for charity donations to mark the occasion.
They released a joint statement on their Archewell foundation website today, saying they are “incredibly grateful” to those who have given money to good causes, volunteered or raised donations on behalf of their son.
They released a joint statement on their Archewell foundation website today, saying they are “incredibly grateful” to those who have given money to good causes, volunteered or raised donations on behalf of their son.
The proud parents wrote: “We have been deeply touched over the past two years to feel the warmth and support for our family in honour of Archie’s birthday.
“Many of you donate to charities on his behalf and mark the occasion by giving back or doing an act of service – all through the goodness of your hearts,” they wrote.
But they said “too many families” are still struggling through the COVID pandemic and asked those who can afford it to help vaccinate the most vulnerable.
“We will not be able to truly recover until everyone, everywhere, has equal access to the vaccine,” they said.
“And with that intention, we are inviting you to contribute whatever you can – if you have the means to do so – to bring vaccines to families in the world’s most vulnerable places.
“For a donation of just 5 dollars, you can cover the cost of a dose for someone in need.
“And because we were able to secure matching support from a number of organisations, that $5 you give will automatically turn into 20 dollars – covering the cost of four doses.”
ROYAL FAMILY CELEBRATES ARCHIE’S BIRTHDAY
Meanwhile, the royal family has sent birthday wishes to baby Archie, who turned two on Thursday (local time), but not without controversy.
The first birthday greetings appeared on the official Royal Family Instagram account alongside a photo of Archie making his public debut in the arms of his parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, at Windsor Castle in May 2019.
“Wishing Archie Mountbatten-Windsor a very happy 2nd birthday today”, the post reads.
But royal followers were quick to note it’s been a while since the royal family had seen Archie.
“No updated pics to use,” one response read.
Prince Charles posted “Happy birthday to Archie, who turns two today” ending the message with a cake emoji.
It was accompanied by a black and white photo of Harry admiring Archie at his christening in July 2019 – which royal watchers have been quick to note excludes Meghan.
“This is weird,” one follower posted.
The Prince of Wales has also come under fire from followers that asked why he didn’t post birthday wishes for his other grandchildren.
“What about Charlotte 4 days ago?,” a follower asked.
Another responded: “Charlotte and Louis are your grandchildren too,”
Prince William and Kate Middleton said, “Wishing Archie a very happy 2nd birthday today”, together with a family photo taken at Archie’s christening.
The throwback includes Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland and Princess Diana’s sisters Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ended their message with a balloon and cake emoji.
Sadly, it’s been 18 months since the royal family has seen Archie.
Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to celebrate Archie’s birthday in private at their California mansion.
Meghan is due to deliver their second child, a girl, this summer.
MEGHAN SCORES LEGAL WIN
A British court has upheld Meghan Markle’s copyright claim against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, over its publication of a letter to her father.
The ruling by judge Mark Warby means the Duchess of Sussex, as Markle is formally known, has now won every part of her legal claim against the newspaper group, which published a handwritten letter she wrote to her father Thomas Markle.
Judge Warby said on Wednesday (local time) at a remote hearing lawyers acting for the Queen had assured him the copyright did not belong to the Crown so he was granting “summary judgment” over that remaining aspect of the case, too.
In February the High Court issued Meghan with a “summary judgment”, meaning she won her privacy and data protection rights claims against Associated Newspapers over the letter’s publication without having to go to trial.
Judge Warby also ordered the Mail on Sunday to print a front-page statement acknowledging her legal victory.
But the judge said at the time her copyright claim needed further scrutiny because the newspaper group suggested Meghan did not fully own the letter’s copyright and members of the royal communications team helped her draft it.
Meghan’s solicitor, Ian Mill QC, said lawyers for the Keeper of the Privy Purse — the official responsible for the monarch’s private funds — had written “disclaiming any claim to copyright on behalf of the crown”.
Mr Mill said he also received a letter from lawyers for Jason Knauf, previously communications secretary to the Sussexes, saying he did not write or help draft the letter.
The newspaper group’s lawyer, Andrew Caldecott, said it was “a matter of regret” that Knauf had not clarified this earlier.
Meghan’s letter to her estranged father was written a few months after she married Prince Harry, and asked him to stop talking to tabloids and making false claims about her in interviews.
Meghan and her husband have successfully mounted further legal action over media breaches of their privacy since moving to the United States last year.
At the same time the couple have engaged with media on their own terms, giving an explosive interview in March to US chat show host Oprah Winfrey, in which they said unnamed royals had made racist remarks about how dark their son’s skin would be.
MEGHAN DEBUTS AS CHILDREN’S WRITER
It comes as Meghan announced her debut as a children’s book writer – and it hasn’t gone down well with everyone.
The Duchess of Sussex’s first book is titled The Bench and “focuses on the special bond between a father and son, viewed through a mother’s eyes”.
According to a post on her Instagram account, the book “was inspired by Meghan's own family experience with her husband, Prince Harry, and son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor”.
The book will be published on June 8 by Random House Children’s Books and illustrated by best-selling Californian artist Christian Robinson. Markle will also narrate the audiobook.
The announcement instantly drew the ire of Markle foe Piers Morgan who was quick to point out Markle “ruthlessly disowned her father” and “trashed” Prince Harry’s father, Prince Charles, during the explosive Oprah interview.
“The whole notion of Meghan Markle dishing out advice to anyone about the relationship between fathers and children is absolutely ridiculous given the appalling relationships she and her husband have with their own fathers,” Piers writes in a column for the Daily Mail.
UPATED HARRY, MEGHAN BOOK COULD BE FINAL STRAW
An updated version of a bombshell royal biography about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could “ruin any chance of reconciliation” with the royal family, an expert has said.
The new edition of Finding Freedom, due to be released on August 5, will delve further into the couple’s lives after a drama-filled year for the couple.
According to The Sunday Times, the book is now being updated with new chapters which will cover the Sussexes tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, the allegations that Meghan bullied royal staff – which she denies – and the death of Prince Philip.
But Buckingham Palace insider and royal biographer Duncan Larcombe said it could be “the final straw” depending on what is written.
Larcombe told Closer Magazine that the new chapters could be “telling”.
“If more negative information comes out about the royals, or in-depth details of any personal conversations between Harry and his family after the funeral are revealed, that really will be the final straw,” Larcombe said.
“That’ll be it – there will be no chance of a reconciliation ever and all trust will be broken.
“How could anyone from the royal family trust them again if the intimate details of conversations were leaked. Why would they want anything more to do with them? Those chapters will be extremely telling as to the state of the royal rift as it stands now, and to where it’ll head in the future.”
The couple’s lucrative Netflix and Spotify deals, as well as their new life in America and the Queen’s decision to strip them of their royal patronages, will also be discussed.
A senior courtier told the Times: “The Oprah interview detonated a bomb under the royal family and most of them are still reeling in shock.
“The book will not help.”
Another senior royal source said: “After Oprah, what else is there to say?”
HARRY JOINS CELEBS AT COVID GIG
Meanwhile, Prince Harry joined pop royalty including Jennifer Lopez at a studded concert in Los Angeles on Monday as he called on the COVID vaccines to be distributed “to everyone, everywhere”.
“Vax Live: The Concert To Reunite The World” featured video messages from the Pope and US President Joe Biden and in-person appearances from Hollywood stars such as Ben Affleck and Sean Penn.
The show will air on television and YouTube on May 8, after being pre-taped in front of thousands of fully vaccinated spectators at a vast California stadium.
“Tonight, we stand in solidarity with the millions of families across India, who are battling a devastating second wave,” said Prince Harry, who was greeted with a standing ovation.
Wife Meghan, who is pregnant with their second child, wasn’t at the concert, which was the prince’s first appearance since his grandfather’s funeral in Windsor late last month.
“The virus does not respect borders, and access to the vaccine cannot be determined by geography,” added Harry. It was also his first in-person appearance at a major public event in California since moving last year to the United States after his and Meghan quit life as working royals.
The Duke of Sussex said the concert was a tribute to the “frontline heroes” of the virus.
“You spent the last year battling courageously and selflessly to protect us all,” he said.
“You served and sacrificed, put yourselves in harm’s way and with bravery knowing the costs. We owe you an incredible depth of gratitude, thank you.”
He called for the vaccine to be distributed “to everyone, everywhere”, adding that “we cannot rest or truly recover until there is fair distribution to every corner of the world.”
Prince Harry, who took to the large circular stage in the middle of the arena dressed casually in a blue shirt, described online disinformation about vaccines as a “humanitarian crisis” that is “getting worse.”
The concert organised by Global Citizen, an international advocacy organisation, aims to battle vaccine disinformation while calling on world leaders and corporations to take action and make donations.
Thousands of spectators gathered inside Los Angeles’ giant, recently completed SoFi stadium for the first time. Most attendees were frontline medical workers, many dressed in nurse and doctor uniforms.
Selena Gomez hosted proceedings, calling for “doses and dollars” to go to the world’s poorest countries even as California and parts of the West emerge from lengthy lockdowns thanks to massive inoculation progress.
A glittering J-Lo told fans she had been forced to spend Christmas without her mother for the first time due to the pandemic — before bringing the Lopez matriarch on to an elaborate meadow-themed stage for a feel-good singalong of “Sweet Caroline.” The Foo Fighters were joined by surprise guest Brian Johnson of AC/DC for a rendition of “Back in Black.” “We ain’t out of the woods yet … let’s work as hard as we can to make sure we can do this” every night, said frontman Dave Grohl.
Organisers said the event had surpassed its fundraising goal need to purchase 10 million vaccine doses for low and middle-income countries, drawing more than $53 million in donations from corporations and philanthropists.
In pre-taped messages, President Biden said he was “working with leaders around the world to share more vaccines and boost production” while Pope Francis said: “I beg you not to forget the most vulnerable.” Other video messages came from Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Originally published as ‘Deeply touched’ Prince Harry, Meghan Markle post new pic on Archie’s birthday
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