Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to the United States, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have kept much of their family life private. However, certain aspects of their parenting approach, living arrangements, and childcare decisions have been discussed in interviews, biographies, and reputable media coverage.
The couple are parents to two children, Prince Archie, born in 2019, and Princess Lilibet, born in 2021. Since moving to California, they have emphasized maintaining a family-focused lifestyle while balancing professional projects, charitable work, and media production.
A Strong Emphasis on Privacy and Family Life
In multiple public interviews, including their 2021 televised conversation with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex highlighted their desire to give their children a relatively private upbringing. They spoke about wanting their home life to feel stable and personal rather than defined by royal protocol.
This emphasis on privacy aligns with broader statements the couple have made about controlling their public narrative and protecting their children from intense media scrutiny. Their California residence in Montecito has been described in reputable reporting as designed to provide security and space for family life away from London’s royal environment.
While many details about childcare arrangements remain undisclosed — a common choice among public figures — the couple’s public comments consistently point to a parenting philosophy centered on hands-on involvement and close family bonds.
The Role of Extended Family Support
Meghan has frequently spoken about her close relationship with her mother, Doria Ragland, who attended the royal wedding in 2018 and has appeared alongside the couple at several public events. In interviews and documentaries, Meghan has credited her mother with shaping her values around independence, wellness, and community involvement.
Reputable media outlets have reported that Doria spends time with the family in California, though specific details about her role in day-to-day childcare have not been officially confirmed. Such family support arrangements are common and reflect the couple’s stated emphasis on maintaining strong personal connections outside royal structures.
Importantly, official statements from the Sussex household have not provided detailed descriptions of staffing or childcare roles, underscoring their preference for discretion on personal matters.
Early Childcare in the United Kingdom
When Archie was born in 2019, the Sussexes were living at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor as working members of the royal family. Like many royal households, they employed professional support staff during this period.
Their early parenting experiences were described in the biography Finding Freedom, which chronicles the couple’s departure from royal duties. The book discusses the challenges of balancing royal expectations, media attention, and new parenthood. However, as with any biography, its claims should be considered alongside other sources, as it is not an official royal publication.
What is publicly documented is that the couple later chose to relocate to North America and restructure their household in a way that better suited their personal priorities.
A Different Model from the Prince and Princess of Wales
Parenting approaches naturally differ among royal households. For example, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales have long employed professional childcare support for their three children.
Their nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, trained at Norland College, is widely documented in reputable reporting as having joined the household in 2014. Norland College is known internationally for training professional childcare specialists who often work with high-profile families.
This arrangement reflects a longstanding tradition within royal households, where structured staffing supports public duties and extensive travel schedules. The Wales family have nevertheless emphasized that their children live with them full-time and maintain close relationships with both parents.
The contrast between households illustrates that there is no single “royal” model for parenting. Instead, individual families adapt to their personal circumstances, work commitments, and geographic locations.
Parenting in the United States
Since settling in California, the Sussexes have pursued professional ventures through their Archewell organization, streaming partnerships, and philanthropic initiatives. At the same time, they have repeatedly stated that parenting remains their top priority.
In public appearances and documentaries, the couple have spoken about everyday family routines, such as school runs, cooking, and spending time outdoors. These comments reinforce their emphasis on creating a home environment that feels grounded and stable.
Their approach reflects broader social trends among high-profile families who seek to balance demanding careers with direct involvement in their children’s upbringing. Rather than following a strictly traditional royal household structure, they appear to have adopted a model that blends professional support with family involvement.
Why Childcare Details Often Remain Private
For public figures, particularly those with security concerns, information about household staffing is often intentionally limited. Security experts frequently advise high-profile families to avoid disclosing personal routines or staff roles, as such information can pose safety risks.
This explains why verified information about the Sussex children’s day-to-day care is relatively scarce. The lack of detailed public confirmation should not be interpreted as secrecy, but rather as a common privacy practice among public families.
Royal historians often note that even within the United Kingdom, precise details about royal household staff are rarely publicized unless formally announced.
A Modern Royal Parenting Approach
Overall, what can be confirmed through reputable sources is that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prioritize privacy, personal involvement, and a supportive home environment for their children. Their choices reflect both their departure from official royal duties and their relocation to a different cultural and social context.
Meanwhile, the Prince and Princess of Wales continue to follow a more traditional structure suited to their roles as senior working royals in the United Kingdom.
Both approaches demonstrate how the modern royal family is adapting to changing expectations, personal circumstances, and global lifestyles. Rather than representing competing models, they highlight the diversity of parenting styles within one extended family.