Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have chosen to shield their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, from the spotlight in recent years. While they delight their fans with regular updates about their home life in Montecito, Meghan chooses never to show her kids’ faces on social media in order to protect their privacy.

In Archie’s younger years, however, the royal couple took the infant to public events, including their royal tour of South Africa, during which they posed for a photo opportunity with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The incredible likeness between Meghan and her son Archie is evident in an unearthed photograph of the Duchess at a similar age.

© DailyMail.com

The snap shows a very sweet baby Meghan looking at the camera wearing a black hoodie. The former Suits actress had the same dark brown eyes and similar-shaped features to Archie – glance quickly, and the mother and son look identical.

The photo was shared at the time by Meghan’s cousin, Shawn Johnson, who spoke to DailyMail.com about his childhood growing up around Meghan.

Shawn called her “sweet” and “kind”, adding: “She was always really looking after us and making sure that we’re all doing fine.’

© Pool

Embroiderer and graphic designer Shawn lives in California, just as his cousin Meghan does, but he told the paper that he has not seen her in almost two decades. Shawn is the son of Meghan’s uncle on her mother’s side, Joseph Johnson.

It’s unusual to see a photo of Meghan as a child, as she and Harry rarely post pictures of their younger years on social media or in the public domain. We can’t believe how much her son resembles his famous mother.

Prince Archie’s royal birthright

Prince Archie was born on 9th May 2021 at the Portland Hospital in London and is sixth in the line of succession to the British throne.

© Getty

Archie was not born with the royal title of Prince, but rather named Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor; however, when his grandfather King Charles ascended the throne, he was subsequently known as Prince Archie in formal settings.

It emerged in March 2023 that Meghan and Harry were using their kids’ Prince and Princess titles. “The children’s titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch,” a spokesperson for the Sussexes said.

At the time, it was understood that Archie and Lilibet’s titles would be used in formal settings, but would not be used in everyday conversational use by their parents.

The Duke and Duchess were understood to be keen not to deny their son and daughter their birthright, but rather to allow them the chance to decide for themselves whether to drop or keep using the titles when the time comes.

Two years earlier, during her sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan referred to her kids’ titles as their “birthright.” Discussing her son’s title, she told Oprah: “It’s not our decision to make.” Meghan said: “Even though I have a lot of clarity on what comes with the titles, good and bad, and from my experience a lot of pain, I again wouldn’t wish pain on my child, but that is their birthright to then make a choice about.”