King Charles III wants to celebrate his grandson Archie’s fifth birthday on Monday despite the family drama.
The British monarch, 75, has plans to send Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son a card and small present, according to royal expert Tom Quinn.
“There has even been talk that he will send one of his own watercolor paintings to Archie as a present as Meghan loves homemade gifts and dislikes extravagant expensive presents,” Quinn told the Mirror.
However, Charles — who is estranged from his youngest son, who lives in the United States with his wife and two children — does not want to step on Harry and Meghan’s toes with his gesture for Archie.
“King Charles and his team are desperately worried that whatever the king sends to his grandson may be misinterpreted by Harry and Meghan,” Quinn claimed.
The insider recalled that Charles once got Prince William’s son, Prince George, 10, an engraved hand-made swing, but Harry has “repeatedly” told his father “that this sort of present is too grand for Archie.”
Quinn also claimed that Charles would prefer to talk to Archie on his birthday via a regular phone call rather than a video call.
“Charles been asking about video calling, but according to his aides, he’s uncomfortable with the idea. If he makes an ordinary telephone call to Harry, it means he can have a quick word with Archie without the need to talk to Meghan, a prospect that fills him with dread,” Quinn said.
People reported that Harry and Meghan, 42, are celebrating Archie’s fifth birthday “privately” at home before their upcoming travel plans.
Harry is going to the UK for the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games. Meghan will stay home with Archie and Princess Lilibet, 2, before linking up with her husband in Nigeria for an Invictus Games event.
The duke is not expected to see any of his family members during his time in the UK.
Last year, Archie’s birthday fell on the same weekend as the king’s coronation, which forced Harry, 39, to shorten his trip to his native country so that he wouldn’t miss the celebrations for his son in California.
The Duke of Sussex went to the coronation in May 2023 without Meghan, 42, and their two children.
It was reported that he spent less than 28 hours in the UK and didn’t see or speak to his estranged family, including his brother William, outside of the ceremony.
At the ceremony, Harry was snubbed via his assigned seat — having been relegated to the third row, in between Princess Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, and Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin Princess Alexandra.
The coronation marked the first time that Harry saw his father since he released his bombshell memoir, “Spare,” in January 2023. He didn’t stay for any of the post-coronation festivities, instead opting to board a plane as soon as the ceremony was over while still wearing his suit and holding a clothes hanger.
While their relationship is undoubtedly strained, Harry did fly to the UK in February after Charles revealed his cancer diagnosis. Their exchange only lasted a reported 45 minutes.
