King Charles celebrated becoming a grandfather for the fourth time in 2019 as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their son, Prince Archie, into the world. Archie, now six, resides in Montecito, California, alongside his parents and four-year-old sister, Princess Lilibet. He entered the world at London’s private Portland Hospital on May 6, 2019, roughly 20 miles from the family’s then-home at Frogmore Cottage. Two days later, Archie journeyed with his parents to Windsor Castle for an introduction to his great-grandparents, the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
King Charles’ Berlin Engagements Prevented Immediate Visit
King Charles traveled nearly 600 miles to meet his newborn grandson, as official duties placed him in Berlin at the time of Archie’s birth. The then-Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall visited the German capital at the British government’s request to bolster ties amid Brexit talks. During the trip, Charles met Chancellor Angela Merkel, attended the Queen’s Birthday Party at the British Ambassador’s residence, and visited the Berlin Airlift Memorial.
Although absent from the UK, Charles and Camilla issued a joint statement the day after Archie’s arrival: “We couldn’t be more delighted at the news, and we’re looking forward to meeting the baby when we return.”
Pattern of Royal Duties Overlapping Grandchildren’s Births
This marked the second instance of Charles being abroad during a grandchild’s birth. In 2018, he stayed in Scotland when Prince Louis arrived and later fulfilled commitments in France before meeting him nine days afterward. He connected with Princess Charlotte just two days post-birth in 2015 while in Poundbury, Dorset, inspecting his model village project.
Prince Archie’s First Public Appearance
The public first glimpsed Prince Archie on May 8, 2019, during a photocall at St. George’s Hall, Windsor Castle. Meghan shared her joy with reporters: “It’s magic, it’s pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world, so I’m really happy.” Describing her son, she added: “He has the sweetest temperament, he’s really calm. He’s just been the dream, so it’s been a special couple of days.”
Harry echoed the sentiment: “Parenting is amazing. It’s only been two and a half days, three days, but we’re just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy and be able to spend some precious times with him as he slowly starts to grow up.”
King Charles’ Schedule on Archie’s Upcoming Birthday
King Charles faces a packed agenda on Archie’s birthday this year. He plans to host the season’s inaugural Garden Party on May 6 at Buckingham Palace. These events honor community volunteers, charity supporters, and emergency service workers. Additional parties occur on May 8 and May 12, plus a dedicated gathering for ex-service personnel on May 19 via The Not Forgotten Association. A fourth event follows at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland on June 30.
