Royals

Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry are reportedly taking Archie to visit the Queen this UK summer

The Sussexes are said to have accepted an invitation to Balmoral later this year, after turning down the invitation last year.
Loading the player...

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly taking Archie to Balmoral this UK summer, after accepting the invitation to join Her Majesty at her Scottish estate, The Sunday Times reports.

It will be the first time Archie, now 10-months-old, will visit the Queen’s favourite residence after his royal parents declined the invitation last year.

It will also mark the first time the Queen will see her great-grandson since the Sussexes went on their six-week break to Canada in November last year. While both Harry and Meghan have returned to the UK since, Archie has remained in North America.

Archie is set to make his first trip to Balmoral later this year. (Image: Getty)

The Sussexes’ young son was expected to travel with Duchess Meghan to the UK for the family’s ‘farewell tour’ earlier this month however the growing fears surrounding COVID-19 made Meghan choose to leave him behind at their new home on Vancouver Island, Canada.

Archie’s absence has reportedly caused great sadness for the 93-year-old monarch, who was looking forward to seeing her great-grandson who she hasn’t seen in months.

The last time the public has seen a glimpse of the little one was on New Year’s Day – an adorable photo of Harry holding Archie, who wrapped up in a big winter jacket and a cute beanie made by Kiwi organisation Make Give Live.

Archie was adorable in our last glimpse of the royal bub. (Image: Instagram/@sussexroyal)

When the family-of-three visits in the summer months, they’re also expected to drop in on Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla at Birkhall, the Prince of Wales’ Scottish retreat on the estate.

It’s not yet known whether the Sussexes’ visit will coincide with the Cambridges’ visit to Balmoral.

It’s not known how often Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have seen their cousin, but the four young royals were spotted together at a charity polo match in July last year, watching the match with their royal mothers from the sidelines as their father’s competed.

Prince Louis cheekily sticks out a tongue at his baby cousin Archie. (Image: Getty)

Following Archie’s birth in May, Harry and Meghan revealed Prince Philip had been the very first member of the Royal Family to meet him.

During a press photo call two days after his birth Meghan revealed: “We just bumped into the Duke [of Edinburgh] as we were walking by which was so nice. It’ll be a nice moment to introduce the baby to more family and my mum is with us as well.”

Just hours later the couple posted a gorgeous photograph to Instagram of the Queen meeting her brand new great-grandchild, where they also revealed his name, sans royal title: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

Harry and Meghan have officially completed the last of their official royal duties before formally stepping back on March 31 after announcing in a shocking statement in January that they had made the decision to step back from their roles as senior royals.

The move will see them no longer official represent the Queen or the Commonwealth and split their time between the UK and North America, working towards financial independence.

The couple is planning to launch a non-profit organisation in the coming months, which will see a re-brand of their now-famous ‘Sussex Royal’ brand after complications arose with the use of the word ‘royal’ following their departure from the royal family.

Meghan and Harry during their ‘farewell tour’ in the UK earlier this month. (Image: Getty)

The couple’s agreement with the Queen and the Palace, outlined on their new website, is set to be reviewed in 12 months.

The final agreement is incredibly different to the half-in-half-out agreement they had hoped for when they first announced their decision, however, Prince Harry has said he does not regret his decision, saying he felt there was “no option but to leave” when it came to protecting his family.

Harry and Meghan have both returned to Canada, with reports they’re eyeing up Meghan’s home-state California as their new home base in the near future.

Related stories