Let’s be honest: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have raised the bar when it comes to celebrity kid privacy. No paparazzi pics. No red carpet toddler tantrums. Just the occasional glimpse of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet when their parents decide it’s time to break the internet with cuteness. If you’ve been meticulously tracking every detail like a royal family sleuth, here’s a moment-by-moment recap of all the rare sightings, both official and unofficial, of the Sussex children.
1. Archie’s First Royal Photocall (May 2019)
Two days after arriving on Planet Earth, baby Archie made his grand debut at Windsor Castle in the arms of a glowing Meghan and a slightly overwhelmed (but beaming) Harry. This wasn’t your average royal baby moment, though—it was way more low-key than the grand hospital steps tradition. A brief moment, a swaddle, and bam! A new royal icon was born.
2. Christening Portraits (July 2019)
Like any good royal, Archie had a proper christening at Windsor Castle, and the official photos did not disappoint. Baby in a frilly replica of Queen Victoria’s 1841 gown? Check. Meghan’s glow? Check. Doria Ragland holding it down as the one-woman Markle delegation? Absolutely. It was tradition-meets-modern-family, with a hint of soft-focus elegance.
3. Polo Match Pop-Up (July 2019)
Just days after his christening, Archie made a surprise appearance at a charity polo match, casually hanging with Meghan, his cousins (George, Charlotte, and Louis), and even Kate Middleton. It was one of the few times we got a glimpse of baby Sussex mixing it up with the wider royal crew, and yes, it was cute chaos.
4. South Africa Tour – Meeting Desmond Tutu (September 2019)
This is when baby Archie went viral for real. The four-month-old accompanied his parents to meet the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town. Dressed like a tiny diplomat in striped overalls, he smiled, waved (sort of), and stole the whole show. Meghan and Harry posted the moment to Instagram with the now-legendary caption: “Arch meets Archie!” Peak wholesome content.
5. Canadian Winter Snap (December 2019)
In their 2019 year-end Instagram highlight reel, Meghan and Harry snuck in a photo of Harry holding Archie during their icy getaway to Vancouver Island. Archie wore the fluffiest pom-pom beanie known to mankind, looking like a tiny bear cub in dad’s arms. It was the only peek we got during that first holiday season—and honestly, it was enough to warm even the iciest royal hearts.
6. Save the Children Birthday Video (May 2020)
For Archie’s first birthday, Meghan read Duck! Rabbit! to him on camera as part of Save the Children’s pandemic campaign. The real show, however, was Archie: wriggling, babbling, page-flipping, and launching books like a baby literary critic. Bonus trivia? Oprah gifted him that very book. Yes, Auntie O knew he’d be a bookworm before he could walk.
7. Oprah Interview Extras (March 2021)
During the Oprah interview, Harry and Meghan shared a soft black-and-white video of Archie running on a beach. There is something about the Sussex family montages that gives the impression that they reside in a dreamy Apple advertisement. One second he’s dashing through the sand, the next he’s under dad’s legs—pure toddler energy, bottled in grayscale.
8. Black-and-White Family Portrait (March 2021)
The day after the Oprah interview aired, photographer Misan Harriman dropped a moody yet cozy black-and-white portrait of Meghan, Harry, and Archie. The photo evokes an intimate yet artistic feel, reminiscent of a family Christmas card mixed with a Vogue editorial. Archie appeared slightly older, more assertive, and yes, his father’s red hair was beginning to show through.
9. The 2021 Christmas Card – Enter Lilibet!
Now we’re talking about a double dose of Sussex baby content. For their holiday card, the family finally introduced baby Lilibet—well, sort of. Meghan lifted her daughter into the air in a Simba-like manner, and we were able to observe the tiniest of side profiles. Archie also made an appearance, sporting red hair and denim that were in perfect harmony with Harry’s attire. A family of four had us in stitches. Our hearts? Melted.
10. Lilibet’s First Birthday Photos (June 2022)
To mark Lili’s first birthday, the Sussexes released two photos taken by (you guessed it) Misan Harriman. The first showed Lilibet on the grass at Frogmore Cottage, red hair blazing, baby teeth flashing. The second included Meghan and Harriman’s own family in black and white—because clearly, the Sussexes have a family photo color palette and they’re sticking to it.
11. Christmas Card 2024—Red Hair, Don’t Care
In the most recent Sussex holiday drop, Archie and Lilibet were depicted running into the arms of their parents, their faces naturally turned away. The message? The message was filled with joy, love, and flaming red hair for days. Honestly, it could’ve doubled as a hair color commercial. And we respect the artful avoidance of frontal shots while still delivering that cozy family vibe.
12. “Harry & Meghan” Netflix Docuseries (2022)
If you blinked, you may have missed them, but the Sussex kids popped up throughout the Netflix docuseries in fleeting family clips and candid snapshots. It wasn’t exactly a reality show reveal, more like a tasteful slideshow at your cool friend’s wedding. Sweet, blurry, fleeting—just enough to remind us they exist and are adorable.
13. Lilibet in Meghan’s “As Ever” Brand Promo (2024)
In what some critics dubbed “baby’s first brand appearance,” a photo of Lilibet—again, face not shown—appeared on the landing page for Meghan’s new lifestyle brand. Cue the online pearl-clutching. But honestly? It was the same carefully curated, semi-anonymous style the Sussexes have always used. No scandal here—just a side-profile, soft-focus, ethically lit marketing moment.