Prince Harry’s approach to providing a ‘trauma-free’ upbringing for Archie and Lilibet.
The Duke of Sussex is all the more determined to give his two children a happy childhood given his own difficult upbringing - but he could face issues along the way, according to an expert
Prince Harry and Prince William had an incredibly difficult childhood – from their parents’ unhappy marriage and difficult public divorce, to the sudden death of their mother Princess Diana in 1997.
It has made Prince Harry all the more determined to give his own children a happy upbringing, according to one expert. But he might still face some issues as a result of his self-imposed exile from royal life. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond spoke about Harry’s approach to fatherhood to OK magazine. “I think he is relishing his role as a parent and playing the fullest part he can in the lives of his two tots. He’s lucky enough to be able to share most of their lives so I’m sure Harry is a devoted dad and no stranger to nappy changing or school runs. I think he finds the security and anchor in his little family that was sadly missing in his own broken childhood home.”
Harry was eight when his parents separated – although both the young Princes had witnessed Charles and Diana’s marital issues for some time before that. It will have made Harry determined to give Archie and Lilibet a ‘perfect upbringing wrapped up in a bubble of love’. However, Jennie notes, by closing off their family, Harry and Meghan could face difficult questions from the children in the coming years. “This is the saddest part of their exile,” she noted. “At the moment, the children don’t know any difference, but as they grow up Harry and Meghan will have some delicate manoeuvring to negotiate to explain the situation. It must be something that troubles Harry as a dad.”
Jennie continued: “Imagine Archie, aged 15, telling his friends, ‘My grandpa is/was King! And my uncle is/will be King too.’ But he hardly knew or met them. How sad… and Meghan would have to bear the brunt of the responsibility for that. I’m sure that, like Harry , she wants the very best for their children… and that will include an understanding of their background. I just hope that by the time Archie and Lili grow up, things will be calmer and the family more united, even if they continue to live thousands of miles apart. This is not the children’s fault or responsibility so let’s hope the adults can make it a better world for the next generation of royals.”
Harry’s relationship with the royal family remains incredibly strained, however. It’s been reported that calls and letters to his father go unanswered. And his attempts to connect with his brother, William — through texts, calls, and messages — are also similarly ignored. The family rift, which first became public in 2020 when Prince Harry and his wife stepped back from their royal duties, has been marked by blistering attacks from the couple – in their interview with Oprah, their Netflix series, and in Harry’s memoir.
The Duke did not see Charles or William during his visit to London for the WellChild awards at the end of September. And they also didn’t see one another during Prince Harry’s visit to the UK in May for an anniversary service commemorating 10 years of the Invictus Games. The Sussexes’ continual bombshells have led to a huge rift between William and Harry – and according to one royal expert, it’s led to future king William completely ‘cutting ties’ with his younger brother.
Ingrid Seward touched up the importance of stability in William’s life, telling the Mirror : “William is sensitive, he likes structure and has perseverance. He does not give up easily. His relationship with brother Harry upset him more than he would care to admit. But he found it easier to cut ties rather than allow himself to be continually annoyed.”
