Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are about to celebrate their fifth and third Christmases respectively. The five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are hopefully unaware of all the drama surrounding their parents. Still, they are destined to eventually learn about what happened between their mother and father and their family across the Atlantic.
This Christmas, just as in years previous, Archie and Lilibet won’t spend time with their cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, nor with their grandpa King Charles or uncle Prince William. Harry and Meghan’s rift with the royals continues, and reports suggest that the Sussexes haven’t even been invited to spend Christmas at Sandringham.
Still, the Sussexes are sure to have a great Christmas together, and this week Prince Harry and Meghan Markle put out their own Christmas card. Several pictures were posted along with the card, while a new image of Archie and Lilibet emerged, to the joy of many.
Yet it wasn’t long before people were speculating online whether the photo had been manipulated. It appears that just days before Christmas, a new royal picture conspiracy has emerged months after Kate Middleton’s manipulated Mother’s Day picture.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle largely put their outspokenness regarding the Royal Family aside this year in order to focus on their professional careers. Still, rumors and drama have remained, and after the pair began flying solo at many events, rumors about their marriage being on the rocks emerged.
Harry later denied that that was the case, while experts have suggested that the Sussexes are doing the right thing by trying to spread their wings on their own rather than solely as a duo.
Meghan appears to be focusing on her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, while Harry has continued his work with the cause closest to his heart, the Invictus Games. Still, their main focus is raising their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. Though the couple have never been shy about appearing in public, they have chosen a different path for their children.
Besides appearing in their parent’s Netflix series in 2022, very few pictures of Archie and Lilibet have been published by their parents. Harry and Meghan have chosen to keep their kids out of the spotlight in order to give them privacy. However, that might not be the only reason.
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle ‘unable’ to show pictures of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
A friend of the Sussexes, who remained anonymous, told US Magazine that Harry and Meghan couldn’t show the world pictures of their children because of security reasons.
“William’s kids, for example, have way more safety, even though they’re recognizable. And the same doesn’t apply to Meghan and Harry’s children. They know the world wants to see [them but] I would expect them to live smaller lives until that gets sorted, if it ever does.”
As reported by Express, a source told People Magazine: “Harry has been cautious about showcasing his children publicly, not out of a wish to obscure them but to shield their privacy and ensure their safety from potential risks.”
“He wants them to enjoy as normal a life as possible, free from fears of kidnapping or harm. As a father and husband, Harry is resolute in his commitment to preventing history from repeating itself.”
While Harry and Meghan can and will decide what their children’s lives are like until they are 18, they can do little after that. Even so, a source told the Daily Express that the Sussexes have a plan for their children.
How is Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet doing?
According to an “extremely well-placed” Express source, the Sussexes will give their children free rein when they turn 18. At that point, Archie and Lilibet will be open to choosing whatever future path suits them.
“There’s a conscious effort to keep the children out of the public eye as much as possible until they reach the age of 18, so they can form their own opinions and personalities,” the source said.
“Once they reach the age of maturity, it’s going to be very much about what they want to do, and what they choose to support,” they added. “I suppose it will be like the cool cousins abroad who can live their lives the way they wish while the Wales children will be more about duty and formality.”
A Us Weekly source offered some insight into Archie and Lilibet’s lives, saying they are “well-mannered.” Moreover, the source said Archie is “sweet and curious and playful,” while Lilibet is “vibrant and happy.” And indeed, the Christmas season that is here won’t bring down the children’s mood.
Like the Royal Family, Harry and Meghan decided to send fans worldwide their best wishes before Christmas. The couple shared a message that read, “We wish you a very happy holiday season,” alongside a series of six photos.
Prince Harry & Meghan’s Christmas Card sparks wild conspiracy theory
The montage featured five shots from Harry and Meghan’s trips to Nigeria and Colombia earlier this year, but it was the last one in the series that surprised most. The Sussexes shared a picture of Prince Archie and Lilibet, who can be seen walking towards their parents – waiting with outstretched arms and big smiles – away from the camera. You can see the photos here.
Though it was a new picture of Archie and Lilibet, their faces remained out of sight. On social media, fans showed their excitement about seeing the young prince and princess for the first time in years.
“The kids are so big,” one user wrote, per the Daily Mail.
A second added, “Look at the kids. They have grown so much,” while a third noticed they are “really redheads,” just like their father.
“Okay, so of course I went right to the photo of the kids!! Red heads!! Just like my grandkids!! I love it!!” the comment read.
A fourth gushed, “Omg. There [sic] babies have such red hair!!”
While fans were overjoyed by the new picture of Archie and Lilibet, it also appears to have launched a new royal photo conspiracy. As many might remember, Kate Middleton had to publicly apologize after the Mother’s Day picture of her and her children was revealed to have been manipulated, potentially dealing great damage to the Royal Family and their credibility.
Royal fans claim new photo of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet is ‘fake’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were this week then dragged into another conspiracy theory. On social media, users began debunking details in the new picture of their children, claiming, amongst other things, that Lilibet’s hair looked strange.
The Mirror reported that one user bizarrely claimed that there was a “digitally altered outline” around the Duchess, and another insisted that the dogs were “superimposed” after the picture was taken.
“The only one in focus is Meghan. Fake photo,” one person wrote on X, per the Mirror.
A second said: “Archie doesn’t look like he’s grown in well over a year, and the daughter looks like she’s his height now.”
Another crazy claim accused Harry and Meghan of using AI or “borrowed” children to act like Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
So, is the picture manipulated? The Daily Mail spoke to Photoshop expert James Middleton, who has no connection to Kate Middleton, who said it’s pretty much impossible to know if it’s been edited.
“It is going to be very hard to work out the authenticity’, adding that because it is one of six images on a small card it is ‘far too small’ to analyse in the way Kate Middleton’s Mother’s Day image could be,” Middleton said. “Meghan looks a little painted. It could be just a trick of the light, being so mottled and her white jumper.”
“An image for the Instagram world”
He added, “I think that the position of her feet seem okay and where they should be.”
The British news outlet also spoke to Photographer Glenn Gratton, the head of W8 Media picture agency. He stated that the picture looks “staged,” but that doesn’t mean it’s manipulated.
“Meghan is hugging the boy. Harry is hugging the girl. They have three dogs with them and they’re all together on the perfect drive on a sunny California day. It’s all too perfect,” Gratton told the Daily Mail.
“It is an image for the Instagram world we now live in. It is not AI, but I’ve no doubt it has been retouched like many other people retouch their own Christmas cards before they send it.”
Harry and Meghan have found themselves the subjects of many media frenzies over the past few years. The couple was criticized for going on a “royal tour” to Nigeria, while many questioned the fact that they traveled to Colombia but feared for their safety and security in opting not to travel to the UK.
The Duke and Duchess are trying to improve their public image day by day, but it should go without saying that there are those who look for any opportunity to tear them down. There are apparently individuals out there ready to be outraged at a tiny detail present on their Christmas card: they left out the word “Christmas.”
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle sparks outrage with missing keyword on Christmas card
As per GB News, several fans expressed their disappointment in the Duke and Duchess for not using the word “Christmas.” One stated that it “offends Christians all over the world.”
A second said: “Holiday season is summer, isn’t it?”
“Don’t bother sending a card if it’s not a Christmas card! Why bother?” a third stated.
Another person wrote, “Gets worse every day – doesn’t even look like a Christmas card,” while one user suggested it “looks like a promotional brochure.”
GB News presenter Ben Leo wrote on X: “Harry and Meghan send out their Christmas cards – without the word ‘Christmas’ anywhere.”
A royal fan commented, “The least festive, yet most self-indulgent, card from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle that doesn’t actually wish anyone a Merry Christmas.”
Do you think Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will have any relationship with their Royal side of the family in the future? Or do you perhaps believe they will be working royals when they grow up? Please share this article on Facebook with friends and family and give us your opinion!