Prince Harry reportedly told a close friend that he did not want his son Archie to follow in the footsteps of the Queen, just months before he and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals. The revelation came during a conversation with renowned anthropologist Dr Jane Goodall, who visited the couple at Frogmore Cottage in 2019 shortly after Archie's birth.
Dr Goodall, a longtime friend of Harry, was invited to interview the Duke for a special edition of Vogue magazine guest-edited by Meghan. According to royal author Robert Lacey's biography Battle of Brothers, after the interview, Meghan brought newborn Archie into the room and offered him to Dr Goodall. The primatologist recalled making a light-hearted comment about Archie needing to learn the royal wave, to which Harry responded bluntly: 'No! He's not growing up like that.'
Dr Goodall described being taken aback by Harry's firm response. 'He was very tiny and very sleepy. I think I was one of the first to cuddle him outside the family,' she said. 'I made Archie do the Queen’s Wave saying, “I suppose he’ll have to learn this.” Harry’s reaction brooked no doubt.'
The couple announced their decision to step down as working royals in January 2020 and later relocated to the US, where they have since welcomed a daughter, Princess Lilibet. They have been keen to keep their children out of the public eye, aiming for a 'normal' upbringing away from royal protocols.
In a recent interview, Harry expressed hope that his children would maintain relationships with his family despite the estrangement. 'I've said before that I've wanted a family, not an institution - so of course, I would love nothing more than for our children to have relationships with members of my family, and they do with some, which brings me great joy,' he told People magazine.
