Why Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Have a “Fear” of Publicly Showing Archie and Lilibet

The Sussex kids have rarely appeared in the public eye

Since Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan decided to raise their family in Montecito, California, the couple’s children have very rarely appeared in the spotlight—and there’s an understandable reason for that.

“Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them, but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats,” a friend of the couple explained to People. “He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.”

After a high-speed paparazzi chase resulted in the death of Princess Diana in 1997, Harry has been on the front lines of ensuring the safety of Meghan and their two kids, five-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet. For years, he has fixed his attention on a legal challenge against the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures over its February 2020 decision to revoke his personal protection in the United Kingdom after he stepped down as a senior royal.

“As a dad and husband, Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself,” the friend said.

During a court hearing in December 2023, the Duke of Sussex explained why he doesn’t feel comfortable traveling to his home country with his family.

“I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too,” he told a judge, adding that “it is not possible to keep them safe when they are on U.K. soil.”

In May 2023, Harry lost a legal bid to privately fund his own police protection while in the U.K.