Prince Archie of Sussex facts for kids

Prince Archie of Sussex (born Archie Harrison on May 6, 2019) is a member of the British royal family. He is the son of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. As a grandson of King Charles III, he is currently sixth in line to the line of succession to the British throne. He was born when his great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was still queen.

His Early Life

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born on May 6, 2019. He arrived at 5:26 AM in London, at the Portland Hospital. He is the first child of Prince Harry and Meghan. Unlike some past royal births, there was no immediate photo session outside the hospital.

His birth was announced by Buckingham Palace. This was done with a special notice on an easel. Several famous places lit up in different colors to celebrate. These included Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, and the London Eye. His name was announced two days later, on May 8, 2019.

Archie has a mixed heritage. His mother's family has both African-American and European-American roots. He holds dual citizenship, meaning he is a citizen of both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Family Meetings and Christening

When Archie was two days old, his parents took him to meet his great-grandparents. These were Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

He was christened (given a Christian baptism) on July 6, 2019. The ceremony took place in a private chapel at Windsor Castle. He wore the special royal christening gown. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, performed the christening. Water from the River Jordan was used.

His parents chose not to share the names of his godparents with the public. However, some names were later reported. These included Charlie van Straubenzee, Tiggy Pettifer, Mark Dyer, and the 7th Duke of Westminster.

Moving to North America

In early 2020, Archie's parents decided to step back from their roles. They stopped being working members of the royal family. The family then moved to North America. They settled in Montecito, California, during the summer of that year. His younger sister, Lilibet, was born in 2021.

Public Appearances

In the fall of 2019, Archie traveled with his parents. They went on a tour of Southern Africa. This trip included visits to Malawi, Angola, South Africa, and Botswana.

To celebrate his first birthday in 2020, Archie appeared in a video. It was a storytime video with his mother. This video was part of the "Save with Stories" campaign. This project helped children and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Titles and Succession

When Archie was born, he could have used a special title. This was "Earl of Dumbarton." It is a courtesy title linked to his father's dukedom. However, his parents decided that he would be known as Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. They wanted him to grow up as a private citizen.

Becoming a Prince

When his grandfather, Charles III, became king, things changed. Archie became eligible to use the title "Prince" and the style "Royal Highness." This is because he is the child of a monarch's son. This rule comes from a special document called "letters patent" issued by King George V in 1917.

For a while, it was not clear if he would use these titles. Not all royal family members who can use a title choose to do so. In an interview, his mother said she was told that changes might be made to remove this right. King Charles III had plans for a smaller royal family.

On March 9, 2023, the official British royal family website was updated. It now refers to him as "Prince Archie of Sussex." It was reported that these titles would be used in formal situations. However, they would not be used in everyday conversations.