Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted against sharing a birthday message for their son Archie as he celebrated his fifth birthday on Monday

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle surprised fans when they failed to publicly wish their son Prince Archie a happy fifth birthday.

The couple’s eldest child turned five on May 6, just days before the Duke of Sussex returns to the UK for a special 10th anniversary Invictus Games event. The young prince was born at 05:26 on May 6, 2019, at the Portland Hospital in London. Since 202 he has resided in the United States following Meghan and Harry’s decision to leave their royal duties behind.

While many fans were hopeful of getting a rare glimpse of the young prince, the Sussexes opted against sharing the moment with their fans. The couple appear to have a complicated relationship with social media as earlier this year Meghan amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on her new Instagram, but has also opened up about her conflicted feelings on social media.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their baby son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor ( 
Image:
PA)
Speaking at a panel at SXSW, Meghan broke down exactly why social media can be toxic and simultaneously incredible sources of education and information and why she keeps her “distance from it”. “I keep my distance from it right now just for my own well-being,” she explained, “But the bulk of the bullying and abuse I was experiencing in social media and online was when I was pregnant with Archie and with Lily. You think about that, to really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful. It’s not catty, it’s cruel.”

Taking to social media, some users criticised the couple’s lack of public message for their son, while others left their own messages for the young prince. It was also noted that the Royal Family also didn’t send any public birthday message despite often doing so with other members of the family.

The Royal Family used to send public birthday wishes to the Sussexes, even after they stepped down as senior working royals. The late Queen shared a birthday message with Meghan in the same year that she and Harry moved to America. Sharing a post on the Royal Family’s Instagram account, she said at the time: “Wishing The Duchess of Sussex a very happy birthday.”

Despite the lack of public acknowledgement, it’s thought the King is “desperate” to have a relationship with his stateside grandson. Royal author Tom Quinn made the claim and said Archie is “constantly asking” about his Royal Family in the UK, leading to speculation Archie and Lilibet could be key to mending the family rift.

Archie is the first-born child, and only son, of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Unlike other royal births, there was no immediate photocall at the hospital steps after his birth. Instead, his arrival was announced by Buckingham Palace via a framed notice on an easel outside of the iconic palace.

He later became a big brother when he was two as Harry and Meghan welcomed Lilibet. Archie’s little sister was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California, on June 4, 2021, at 11:40. The youngsters are not in contact with their wider family in the UK.