Prince William reportedly wasn’t too happy with how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle handled Prince Archie’s birth. It is reportedly because the couple kept the news to themselves for a few hours.
Royal historian Robert Lacey described the move as “prima donna” maneuvers in his book Battle of Brothers: William and Harry—The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult. According to the Express, Harry and Markle welcomed their first child, Archie, on May 6, 2019.
He was reportedly born at 5:26 a.m. at London’s private Portland Hospital. Archie weighed 7 lb 3 oz, and Harry was there for the birth. But Buckingham Palace didn’t announce it straight away. Just before 2 p.m., the palace said Markle had gone into labor. But Archie had already been born about eight hours earlier.
Lacey called the palace statement “strangely misleading.” The usual hospital photo call with Archie was also skipped by the Sussexes. The palace had already stated that they wanted to “celebrate privately as a new family.” Two days later, Archie was finally introduced to the public at St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.
But that decision was reportedly not well received by William. The Prince of Wales and Kate Middleton had appeared outside the Lindo Wing after the births of their children. They did it after Prince George was born in 2013, then again when Princess Charlotte arrived in 2015. The same was done after Prince Louis was born in 2018.
Lacey also pointed to William and Middleton’s visit to Archie. They met him on May 14, eight days after he was born. The couple went to Frogmore Cottage to see Harry and Markle after the Duke returned from official engagements in Oxford.
George, Charlotte, and Louis were left at home for the visit. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, however, met him at Windsor Castle on May 8. Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, was there too. That was also the day Harry and Markle introduced Archie to the public.
The photo call was much smaller than usual royal baby appearances. Just one reporter and a small group of photographers were there. Harry and Markle kept tight control over the whole introduction. Lacey wrote that Harry had “won the next round” by handling the introduction on his terms.
Katie Nicholl later wrote about Harry’s desire for privacy in The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown. One source told her that Harry was “almost morbidly obsessed” with keeping Archie’s birth secret.
Nicholl wrote, “Harry and Meghan had wanted some time as a new family before they presented their son Archie to the world. A brief photo opportunity with a single reporter to ask questions took place two days after the birth in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.”
She added, “A historic photograph of the Queen and Prince Philip and Meghan’s mother, Doria, with the baby (not yet named) and Harry and Meghan was an unexpected bonus.” Lacey, however, connected their secrecy with William’s reported frustration. He also shared a separate claim about William’s anger toward Markle.
Lacey wrote, “According to one of my sources, it’s been pointed to him that everyone has a difficult sister-in-law. William’s response was to nod his head in sage acceptance. Then suddenly he broke out angrily. But look at the way that bloody woman treated my staff — merciless!’”
