Meet Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry just revealed all of the important details about their newborn son. Here's everything we know about the royal baby so far, including the special hidden meaning behind his full name.
He was born on May 6, 2019 at 5:26 a.m.
His son did decide to show up a few days late, Prince Harry confirmed in a quick interview after the birth. However, the date did have special meaning to the new parents, as coincides with the second anniversary of their first public appearance as a couple. (Meghan watched Prince Harry play in a charity polo match in Ascot, England). If you're into horoscopes, the date also means the baby is a stubborn yet devoted Taurus.
His first name Archie is derived from Arthur.
The royal family has a long history of recycling names, but this is a fresh take on an old favorite. Arthur is one of Prince Charles's names and it's reminiscent of the legendary King Arthur of Camelot — you know, the Knights of the Round Table and all of that. Prince William and Prince Louis also have Arthur on their birth certificates, too, so this derivative incorporates an old family tradition.
His middle name honors his dad.
This one is pretty spot-on: Harrison literally means "son of Harry", according to Ancestry.
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His last name is Mountbatten-Windsor.
Mountbatten-Windsor has functioned as the royal family's surname since 1960 when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip hyphenated their family names. For everyday life, the child will most likely use the last name "Sussex" similar to how Prince George is known as "George Cambridge" at school.
He will not have a title.
The baby could have used the title Earl of Dumbarton (one of Prince Harry's subsidiary titles), according to peerage experts Debrett's. However, his parents apparently decided against using a courtesy title, similar to what Princess Anne did with Peter and Zara Phillips. Zara later shared that she appreciated that decision to give her a more "normal" childhood: "I’m very lucky that both my parents decided to not use the title and we grew up and did all the things that gave us the opportunity to do,” she told The Times in 2012.
He was possibly born at Portland Hospital.
Although Meghan Markle reportedly favored a home birth during her pregnancy, she ultimately checked into a London hospital over the weekend, the Daily Mail reports. This West End maternity ward has also hosted famous moms like Sarah, Duchess of York, Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Jerry Hall, and Claudia Schiffer.
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He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces.
That's right around the average birth weight of about 7.5 pounds, but smaller than his cousins. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis all weighed over 8 pounds when they were born!
He is seventh in line to the throne.
The current order of succession now goes: Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry, and then the royal baby. After him comes Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie.
He is eligible for U.S. citizenship.
Since Meghan Markle is a U.S. citizen and lived there for more than five years, her son can also become an American. However, the California native would have to file paperwork with the American consulate in order to make that official, the New York Times reports.
He will live at Frogmore Cottage.
The 218-year-old home is located near Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England, about an hour outside of London. It previously served as housing for estate workers, but the Sussexes recently converted it into a 10-bedroom single family home complete with a gender-neutral nursery and space for Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland, Vanity Fair reports.
The first photos took place at Windsor Castle.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Archie posed for brief photo-op on May 8 at St. George's Hall in Windsor Castle. The newborn was swaddled in a traditional lace blanket from G.H. Hurt & Son, while the new mom opted for a sleeveless white dress by Grace Wales Bonner.
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His next public outing will probably be his christening.
Royal babies typically make their big debut at an Anglican baptism ceremony about three months after they're born. For example, cousin Prince Louis was born on April 23, 2018, and his christening took place 11 weeks later on July 9, 2018. The event could take place at Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace, or somewhere entirely new.
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Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.
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