Everyone has an opinion on the Sussexes. But honestly, when you strip away the tabloid drama and the royal rift, there are two actual humans at the center of it all: Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. It’s wild to think that Archie is already 6 and "Lili" is 4. Time moves fast, even in Montecito.
Most of us only see them in grainy Paparazzi shots or that one stylized Netflix documentary. People assume their lives are either a gilded cage or a total Hollywood spectacle. The truth is usually somewhere in the middle, buried under layers of security and very specific parenting choices.
The Reality of Meghan Markle’s Kids in 2026
Life in California for these two isn't exactly the "Prince and Princess" vibe you'd see in London. They aren't doing balcony waves. Instead, they’re doing "rose and thorn" at the dinner table. Meghan recently shared this little ritual at an event in Summerland, explaining how they ask the kids for the best and worst parts of their day.
Lilibet apparently usually says her day was "just a blast." She’s got a big personality. Archie? He’s the "sweet temperament" one, according to his mom. He’s the big brother who had to navigate that weird transition when a new baby arrives—something Meghan talked about with Ellen DeGeneres a while back. It’s a normal kid problem, just with a title attached.
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The Name Game and the Titles
Let’s get the formal stuff out of the way because people get confused. They are officially Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. This didn't happen at birth. Because they were great-grandchildren of the Sovereign (Queen Elizabeth II) at the time, they weren't entitled to the HRH style.
When King Charles III took the throne in 2022, everything changed. By the rules of the 1917 Letters Patent, they became grandchildren of the monarch. Now, they use "Sussex" as a last name at school. It’s a bit of a bridge between their royal heritage and their American reality.
- Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor: Born May 6, 2019, at Portland Hospital, London.
- Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor: Born June 4, 2021, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, California.
That Massive UK Return Rumor
Right now, in early 2026, the big question is: will they go back? Harry has been fighting for armed security for years. He’s been vocal about not feeling safe bringing Meghan Markle’s kids to the UK without it.
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There’s a lot of chatter about the 2027 Invictus Games countdown events happening this year. Reports suggest that if the security situation gets sorted, we might see the whole family in London by July. It would be the first time Lili has been back since the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Archie was born there, but he’s spent the vast majority of his life in the California sun.
A Sanctuary in Montecito
The family lives in a $14.65 million estate. It sounds fancy—and it is—but Meghan has described it more as a "safe haven." She even refused to film her Netflix series With Love, Meghan inside the house to keep that privacy.
They’ve got chickens. They’ve got those two massive palm trees Harry loved when they first saw the place. It’s a lifestyle built on protection. Meghan mentioned recently that she’s already thinking about the "dangers of social media" for them, even though they’re only 6 and 4. They’re being raised with a "healing blanket" and a lot of music in the morning. It’s very "California Wellness."
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Why It Matters
A lot of people think these kids are being "robbed" of their heritage. Others think they’re lucky to be away from the royal "fishbowl." The reality is they are the first of their kind: high-ranking British royals being raised as American kids.
They are interracial, dual-citizens, and growing up in a world where their "Auntie Oprah" is a neighbor. That’s a lot to carry. Whether they eventually embrace their royal roles or ditch them entirely for a life in tech or film is the billion-dollar question.
Actionable Insights for Following the Sussex Family
If you're trying to keep up with the real updates and not just the clickbait, look for these specific indicators:
- Check the Official Royal Website: The line of succession and titles are updated there first. Currently, Archie is 6th and Lili is 7th.
- Monitor RAVEC Rulings: The UK's Home Office decisions on Harry’s security will be the only real predictor of whether the kids visit the UK.
- Watch Archewell Foundation Releases: This is where the couple shares their most authentic "parenting" initiatives, like the Parents' Network for online safety.
- Ignore "Anonymous Insider" Lists: If a report claims Lilibet has a 10-step morning routine or Archie is learning six languages, take it with a grain of salt. The couple is notoriously private for a reason.
The focus for Harry and Meghan right now seems to be "presence." They’ve talked about being present parents above all else. In a world of 24-hour news cycles, that might be the hardest job they have.