WARNING: This article discusses pregnancy loss. Reader discretion is advised.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s beautiful family of four began with a blind date in 2016.
Their instant connection caused controversy and admiration, as publications hastened to plaster the details of their relationship on the front page.
Despite the very loud outside opinions, their romance continued to grow.
“I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly — it was a confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned,” Harry told People.
“This beautiful woman literally tripped and fell into my life. I fell into her life, and the fact that she will be unbelievably good at the job part of it as well is obviously a huge relief to me because she’ll be able to deal with everything else that comes with it.”
On November 4, 2017, Prince Harry popped the question on an intimate night at their home in Nottingham Cottage. And yes, the late Queen Elizabeth approved of the proposal.
Prince Harry set up candles and a blanket, hoping to make it look like their third date in Botswana. It’s also where he “first thought of proposing,” as he revealed in Spare.
Meghan officially became the Duchess of Sussex on May 19, 2018, when she and Prince Harry exchanged vows in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Meghan walked down the aisle in a simple, yet beautiful gown from Givenchy, styled with the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara
No matter the time, no matter how inconvenient, everyone paused their life to watch the historic event.
Every move they made was analysed by the public, who early wanted to disect every part of their relationship. This intensity only doubled when Meghan and Harry announced the arrival of their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, 2019.
“It’s been the most amazing experience I could ever possibly imagine,” Harry told the press at the time.
“How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension. But we’re both absolutely thrilled and so grateful to all the love and support from everybody out there. It’s been amazing, so we just wanted to share this with everybody.”
Seven months later, they stepped down as senior working members of the British royal family.
But their struggles were only just beginning. Between public scrutiny, moving countries, and Archie’s first birthday, Meghan suffered a a miscarriage July 2020.
In November 2020, the Duchess described the heartbreaking moment in an op-ed for The New York Times.
“After changing his diaper, I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm,” she wrote. “I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.”
Just less than a year after the miscarriage, Meghan gave birth to their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten Windsor, on June 4, 2021, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California.
In a statement, the proud parents revealed the meaning behind Lilibet’s name.
“Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales,” the statement read.
Motherhood has since become Meghan’s “greatest privilege of my life.” And there’s no doubt fatherhood has had the same effect on Prince Harry, who celebrated yet another Father’s Day in 2026.
“They’re so lucky to have you 🥹,” Meghan captioned the heartwarming photo (below). “We all are… Happy Father’s Day to our one and only.”
Since then, Prince Harry and Meghan have returned home to the UK with their children. While in London for the 2026 WellChild Awards, Prince Harry gave some insight into his parenting style.
“At breakfast this morning, they had a bit of Monday morning blues,” Harry shared with Hello! “But at breakfast this morning, I decided, ‘You know what? You’re being a little bit tricky, so I’m going to tell you exactly what I’m doing tonight.’ And they were genuinely fascinated and asking all sorts of questions.
“So, like with all of my work and their mum’s work as well, whatever we can do to try to instil some of that awareness, I think is absolutely crucial.”
Despite returning to the UK, the parents remain adamant on keeping their children’s identities safe. But Meghan does share snippets of intimate family moments on Instagram; from gardening, holidays and adventures in Disneyland, royal watchers continue to see the kids grow from a distance.
During Easter 2026, the Duchess shared a video of Archie and Lilibet racing for the final Easter egg hidden in their garden. In the carousel, Lilibet was also seen wandering their backyard in bunny ears, holding on tightly to a large white fluffy toy bunny. Another video showed Archie decorating his own Easter egg.
If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is always available. You can call the SANDS 24/7 bereavement support line on 1300 308 307 or visit the website.
