Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet ‘thriving’ in the US

While their royal cousins are being raised in the UK, Prince Archie and his sister Princess Lilibet are apparently “thriving” across the pond. Compared to the public-facing lifestyle of the working royals, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s two children, aged seven and four respectively, live a relatively private life away from the eyes of the world in Montecito, California.

The young royals are reportedly “really thriving” in the US, according to a source who recently spoke to People. The insider added that the Sussexes love their California community and the secluded home they’ve resided in since mid 2020 following their exit from the Royal Family.

A source told the publication that Harry and Meghan give their kids “space to be themselves” and for their different personalities to “flourish”, noting that it was important for Harry after being raised in the public eye.

Montecito home

Harry and Meghan have set up their home base approximately 5,400 miles away from Buckingham Palace in a $29 million mansion. The couple have lived at the property, which has featured in Meghan’s Netflix series and is located in a star-studded Santa Barbara neighbourhood, for six years. 

“We did everything we could to get this house,” Meghan previously told The Cut. “Because you walk in and go… Joy. And exhale. And calm. It’s healing. You feel free.” 

The home has a grand entrance, family kitchen space, shared home office, outdoor pool, and sprawling grounds, which includes a chicken coop. 

“One of the first things my husband saw when we walked around the house was those two palm trees,” Meghan said of the outdoors garden on the property. “See how they’re connected at the bottom? He goes, ‘My love, it’s us.’  And now every day when Archie goes by us, he says, ‘Hi, Momma. Hi, Papa.'”

Growing up fast

© Instagram

While Archie was born in London, he’s spent the majority of his childhood in the US with his sister, who was born in Santa Barbara. The Sussexes have kept their children’s childhood largely out of the limelight, with little known about their Californian upbringing. 

Meghan recently celebrated her son’s seventh birthday with a heartwarming tribute on Instagram. 

“7 years later…happy birthday to our sweet boy,” she captioned an old photo from when Archie was a baby, as well as a more recent picture of him with Lilibet, who turns five in June, on a beach.