Archie’s birthday messages from Kate, William and royals dubbed ‘awkward’ for using old photos

Meghan and Harry’s son Archie has turned two — and the royal family’s birthday messages have left people cringing.

Meghan and Harry are celebrating their son Archie’s second birthday today, but royal watchers noticed that the good wishes from other members of the family were more than a little awkward.

The Queen’s official Royal Family Twitter and Instagram account shared an old photo of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with Archie as a newborn, adding a balloon emoji and a short message: “Wishing Archie Mountbatten-Windsor a very happy 2nd birthday today.”

Kate and William also shared an old photo of Archie and the family at his christening, along with an almost identical brief message: “Wishing Archie a very happy 2nd birthday today.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge plumped for a balloon and a cake emoji.

Wishing Archie Mountbatten-Windsor a very happy 2nd birthday today. 🎈

📸 Dominic Lipinski / PA Images pic.twitter.com/dLssyrVSor

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2021

Wishing Archie a very happy 2nd birthday today. 🎈🎂

📷 Chris Allerton pic.twitter.com/7XMXIKs1Qv

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) May 6, 2021

Happy birthday to Archie, who turns two today. 🎂

📸 Chris Allerton pic.twitter.com/HwvTBzphJu

— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) May 6, 2021

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Prince Charles and Camilla cut Meghan out of the photo completely, sharing a black-and-white photo of the Prince of Wales with Harry and his baby son, and writing: “Happy birthday to Archie, who turns two today (cake emoji).”

Observers had another for idea for something they could cut with a knife — the tension.

“Well this is awkward,” one Twitter user wrote on the royal family post.

“This is awkward. No photos with H’s family to use,” another commenter posted.

“How sad that this is the only photo that the royal family can share,” another added.

The post is a marked contrast to the brand-new photo of Princess Charlotte shared by the same account for her sixth birthday just four days ago.

There are no recent photos of the extended family after Meghan and Harry’s acrimonious departure as working royals. Picture: Misan Harriman/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex via Getty Images

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Others were incredulous over the old official photo used by Kate and William. “You really don’t have a single picture with him do you?” one Twitter user wrote. “Not one pic with your nephew other than a work photo?”

Prince Charles’s post also came in for criticism for the apparent slight to the pregnant Duchess of Sussex. “Rude!! He has a mother,” said one commenter.

“I see Meghan is still being cut out of The Firm’s family photos,” added another.

Several others pleaded with the royals to make up, encouraging Charles to “pick up the phone and wish your grandson a happy birthday” after Harry revealed in his Oprah interview that his father had stopped taking his calls.

Despite the 36-year-old seeing his family at Prince Philip’s funeral, relations still appear strained after the dramatic fallout to Meghan and Harry’s tell-all in which bombshell claims included the royal family taking issue with Archie’s skin colour before he was born.

Meghan is due to give birth to the couple’s second child, a girl, this summer.

Meghan and Archie read a children’s book on Instagram for his last birthday. Picture: Instagram

The 39-year-old has just written a children’s book called The Bench, inspired by the Duke of Sussex’s relationship with their son.

The couple have not yet shared their own photo of Archie as it is still the early hours of the morning in California.

Fans have been speculating about how Harry and Meghan will celebrate their son’s birthday.

Last year, fans were treated with a video of the young royal sitting on his mother’s lap as she read him a children’s book. The video was shared by UK charity Save The Children to promote a lockdown reading campaign.

Fans have already been marking the special occasion by sending several messages of well-wishes on social media.

One person wrote: “It’s now past midnight sooo happy second birthday Archie!!”

Another fan added: “It’s officially May 6 in Kenya. Happy 2nd birthday Archie.”

A their commenter said: “Happy birthday wee Archie!!

“You are so loved and so cherished.”