Prince Harry, Meghan break silence as William decides Archie, Lilibet fate

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released their first statement as discussions surround the future of Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, royal titles.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020 and moved to the US. To continue and expand their charitable efforts, they founded the Archewell Foundation.

With their new establishment, the couple have continued to support causes that they strongly feel about, especially concerning the safety and security of their children.

Archewell marked Social Media Harms Remembrance Day on Monday, which was designated in 2024 by “a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. Senate to commemorate the lives of young people who have lost their lives due to online harm”.

In the statement, Archewell noted that the day was “put forward by several members of The Parents’ Network – the families of Carson Bride, Alexander Neville, and Devin Norring, three young people who tragically lost their lives in connection to harm on social media platforms.”

It maintained that they “recognise the young people who have suffered harm on social media and commends the families and activists who are fighting for safer and more accountable online spaces”.

They concluded, “We are proud of the members of The Parents’ Network, who continue to come together as a community to support one another and ensure that no child is lost to social media.”

The message comes as tensions emerge surrounding Prince William’s decision about the Sussex children. Sources told The Times that “under the next reign, roles for Archie and Lili as working royals are unlikely”.

Reports suggested that the reason why the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have kept their titles, despite stepping down as working royals five years ago, is so that Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, may have a choice to return to the royal fold.

As William has been preparing for his future role as monarch and has his own vision about how he wants to runs things in the monarchy, he is not willing to approve the return to the Sussexes during his reign.