AceShowbiz - Meghan Markle has marked a special occasion by sharing previously unseen photographs of her son, Prince Archie, as he celebrates his seventh birthday. The Duchess of Sussex posted two heartfelt images on her Instagram account to commemorate the day.

The first photo captures a tender moment from Archie's infancy, showing him resting on his father’s chest shortly after birth. In this intimate snapshot, baby Archie is peacefully lying on Prince Harry, highlighting the early bond between father and son. The second image appears much more recent and shows Archie alongside what seems to be his sister, Princess Lilibet, enjoying a day by the seaside.

Meghan accompanied the post with a simple yet touching message: "7 years later...happy birthday to our sweet boy." She concluded her post with a heart emoji, which has since garnered hundreds of likes from fans around the world.

Prince Archie is the eldest child of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, currently sixth in line to the British throne. He was born on May 6, 2019, at the private Portland Hospital in London, weighing 7lb 3oz. Several months after his birth, he was christened Archie Harrison in a private ceremony at a chapel in Windsor. His middle name honors his father, Harry.

Archie has red hair, a trait he shares with his father. When he was just 10 months old, Archie and his parents left the United Kingdom and relocated to California. There, he is being raised alongside his younger sister, Princess Lilibet. Since the move, his only visit back to the UK was in June 2022, when the family returned for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

This return also marked the last time Archie saw his grandfather, the King. The relationship between Harry and Meghan and the wider royal family has been notably strained, especially following the couple’s candid revelations in their Netflix documentary and Harry’s memoir, Spare.

Despite these tensions, the King expressed his joy when Archie was born, reportedly saying he "couldn't be more delighted." During Archie’s christening, the King’s former Clarence House Instagram account shared a touching photo of Prince Charles looking proudly at his grandson.

Royal commentator Duncan Larcombe has spoken about how Archie's birthday underscores the ongoing estrangement between the King and his youngest son. Larcombe told the Mirror that the King is reportedly full of regrets over the family rift, emphasizing that he would not have wished for the relationship to deteriorate as it has. The King has also spoken about his enjoyment of being a grandparent.

Last year, Meghan marked Archie’s sixth birthday on Instagram with a heartfelt caption. She referred to him as "our sweet boy," expressing surprise at how quickly time has passed. The post included a photo of Archie from behind, gazing at a vibrant orange sunset. She described him as "Our son. Our sun."

Meghan also thanked friends who joined the family for a birthday party, writing, "Thank you for all of the love, prayers, and warm wishes for our sweet boy. He’s six! Where did the time go?" She closed the message with a red heart emoji and gratitude for those who made the celebration special.

Since launching her lifestyle brand As Ever last year, Meghan has occasionally shared glimpses of her children on social media. However, she remains careful to protect their privacy, frequently obscuring or avoiding showing their faces in public posts.

Archie continues to grow up away from the public eye in California, under the care of his parents. The family’s selective sharing of moments like this birthday tribute offers rare insights into their private life, much to the interest of royal followers worldwide.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Mirror.