Prince Archie’s favourite hobby – and he’s going to need to be very tough
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex work hard to give their two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, a normal childhood away from the public eye. However, every so often royal fans will be treated to a bit of insight into what the two adorable Sussex children are up to in California, by the Duke and Duchess as they go about their public engagements or interviews.
Prince Harry gave some insight into the hobbies that young Archie – who is sixth in line to the throne – gets up to in his spare time during a sit down with Ellery Hanley MBE, formerly captain of Wigan and Great Britain rugby league teams. The video call chat took place back in 2020, when the couple had only just settled in California, and the Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing restrictions were still ongoing.
The two men sat down to mark the 125th anniversary of the Rugby Football League, and Harry expressed just how interested he was in passing on his own passion for the sport to his son, who was at the time one-year-old – however, he said there was one major drawback that was limiting the father and son’s progress.
“What I need is a few mini rugby balls that I can then get Archie involved with the game because at the moment it is impossible to find any,” Harry revealed.
“But I [have] got a little bit of space outside which we are very fortunate to have. So, I need to get him playing some rugby league. But I am just unbelievably fortunate and grateful to have outdoor space and to see my son be able to be outside. Because I know just so many people have not had the opportunity in the last five months. So, our little man is our number one priority. But our work after that is the second priority and we are just doing everything we can to try to play our part to make the world a better place,” the Duke added.
Now aged six, royal fans will have to wait and see just how much progress Harry has made in teaching his son the ropes of rugby. Harry has a long history of playing and has done much to support the sport itself over the years, and before stepping back as a working royal, he was the patron of both the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League – which he was stripped of, along with his other official patronages.