Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were urged to do one thing regarding their son, Prince Archie, who turned seven this week. The eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would have undoubtedly celebrated his special day with his nearest and dearest in Montecito, California.
But he wouldn’t have been anywhere near his royal relatives from across the pond due to his parents’ ongoing feud. Archie last saw the royals in 2022, when the Sussex family visited the UK for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Now, a child expert has weighed in on how Archie may start to realise and process aspects of his life as he enters middle childhood.
lona Andrews, certified sleep consultant and founder of Sleeping Stars, a UK-based, family-owned baby clothing brand specialising in sleepwear, told the Daily Express: “At seven, children are perceptive. They notice if something is being sidestepped, or if they’re not getting the full story.
“Meeting their questions with openness isn’t about overexplaining or deflecting. It’s about helping the child navigate the narratives in their life, feel safe to ask whatever they need to ask, and know that no question is too big.
“That builds the kind of trust that becomes essential when the teenage years arrive.”
Ms Andrews said that the best thing Harry and Meghan could do as parents is to “acknowledge” any possible questions Archie may have.
She explained: “Parents can really help by acknowledging those questions honestly and age appropriately. If questions aren’t answered, children tend to fill in the blanks.
“So, providing concrete, honest narratives is important at this age.”