I’m really shocked that Prince Harry didn’t postpone his (now) day trip to the Netherlands today. The trip was originally scheduled as a two-day (overnight) visit to Amsterdam and the Hague to do several events including a launch/promotion for the 2020 Invictus Games. It felt like Prince Charles AND Prince William’s offices “canceled” the Amsterdam part of the trip because they were concerned that Harry would be pulling too many media resources away from their activities – Charles is still on an official visit to Germany, and William and Kate were in Wales yesterday. So after the first day of Harry’s proposed trip was canceled… he and Meghan just did the baby photocall with Archie Harrison, and it completely overshadowed what Charles and William were doing anyway. Classic.
But, as I said, I’m shocked that the trip to the Hague wasn’t postponed. Archie Harrison is only three days old and from the looks of it, Harry and Meghan have not put their son down for one second. That’s how much the Invictus Games mean to Harry though – he’ll travel out of the country for a day just to promote his signature event, which he largely created. He must have felt like Meghan and Doria had things well in hand, but I imagine Harry is going on no sleep and it was probably crazy-hard for him to leave. He flew into the Hague this morning and he was greeted by Princess Margriet and other Dutch organizers. The 2020 Invictus Games will be held one year from now.
Also, I’m already tired of the “so much for his paternity leave” headlines. This is clearly a one-off trip to promote something he cares about deeply. He’ll return to England later today and his paternity leave will continue. Trust that.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
It’s only for the day and it’s an hour flight. I don’t see this as a big deal. If it was anything other than Invictus i’m sure he would have canceled. I think it just shows how much this means to him.
Agreed and it really makes me like Harry more. This is important and it’s just a day trip.
Agreed and same!
I’m sure little Archie (ugh, sorry) is well taken care of by Meghan and Doria. Newborns sleep most of the time anyway.
Mine did but not after crying so much. It’s all a blur now, cry, feed, soothe, change nappy, sleep, cry but then again, that’s just normal baby behaviour as they try to transition from being out of the womb and in this new & weird environment.
We were lucky that my son was born a week or so before the school closed (he works at a secondary school) for the summer so my partner was able to take his full paternity leave and then some of his holiday leave before going back to work.
He left Archie (ugh that name) in very capable hands. His wife had an easy labor, there’s plenty of help available should they decide they want it after all. NBD.
Guys, instead of hating the name, I think we should follow Kaiser’s lead & call Gingersnap (what my mom & I call Polo Baby) ArchieHarrison. I really think it works. Or maybe Archison? No ArchieHarrison is a good name.
Or people could just get over themselves and respect the fact that it’s his name. Saying “ugh” after writing his name or using retching emojis like was done yesterday over a baby’s name is gross and childish.
@mrsbanjo-totally agree, get over it. With as much support as H&M get on this site I’m really surprised at how crappy people are being about this baby’s name. I love the name but if I hadn’t I wouldn’t be constantly referring to how terrible it is. I don’t like the Cambridge kids name, not my style, but I never made a comment about them and it honestly never crossed my mind. It’s a name and everyone’s going to have an opinion but just because it’s terrible to you doesn’t mean it’s terrible period.
I agree MrsBanjo it’s starting to annoy. It’s like people who don’t try to pronounce someone name correctly it’s so disrespectful.
Maybe we can shorten his name to Chi, and then he can match Kim K’s Chi (pronounced Shy, because that family are insane and stupid).
I think Gingersnap is an adorable nickname. A chip off Daddy Ginger.
While I’m not a fan of the name, of course respecting the parents wishes and calling by him by his given name is what I will do. I think, as we all shall do.
But now I rather like ArchieHarrison.
@Jen …How do you know. Meghan had an easy labour?
ehh is there really an “easy” labor??
that said, I agree with you on the capable hands part. 🙂 I’m sure if Meghan puts Archie down for a moment, Doria will be thrilled to step in!
Why think that Charles & William cancelled the 1st day for their needs?
It seems more like Harry cancelled that part for obvious and justified reasons. The Invictus Games are very important to Harry. Meghan has her mom with her, and likely encouraged Harry to go. I really don’t see the big deal.
He looks so happy and hot!
He really, really does. So happy and sexy as hell! They’re adorable and the way the happiness is just pouring off of them has made me both sad and happy lol
I’m sure he shed some tears as he was leaving, but the IG is his baby too. He wouldn’t have missed this launch unless there Meghan was still pregnant or Archie wasn’t doing well.
good for him for having a deep sense of duty to the games he founded for the wounded, sick and injured servicemen and women of Britain. imagine how many of these people have been away from their children for days, weeks, months while they were hospitalized. or those who never return.
Exactly! Just respect from me. Philanthropic work involves self sacrifice and flexibility. Harry is where he should be.
Perfect way to put the situation!
That is a good way to look at it and I wonder if that was part of his decision – many service men and women spend significant time away from their families, and away from their newborns, so he can take a day and do this.
Well put…. and Meghan and the baby will be fine without Harry for a day x
Thanks for raising this point, really gives me some perspective.
Honestly, it makes me like him more that he did not fully cancel this trip. At least he has some sense of duty. Besides, lots of fathers get no paternity leave and must go back to work full-time right after their babies are born.
Exactly.
it also shows his very strong work ethic and sense of duty both of which he takes after his father and grandparents.
Agree, this is his passion project, and also, this is like a one to two hour flight from London and he’ll be back the same day. It’s almost like a long trip to the grocery store! It is very rare to have both parents never leaving the house even during baby’s first week – it’s not a house arrest situation!
Plus Meghan has Doria’s capable help so I think everything is FIIIINE.
Yesterday, I overheard people talking about Archie’s name and actually making retching sounds in reaction to it. People were just tearing it up. I suddenly felt so bad for the kid. Archie is NOT a horrible name.
Sorry, just feeling sad about everyone’s ugly response to it. I hope he never knows.
I don’t think he will care and neither do his parents. I think people are being way over the top and dramatic in their dislike for the name. It’s a name that’s been around for a long time and it’s pretty popular in the UK. Funnily enough, I noticed a story about Amy Poehler today; one of her sons is also named Archie.
The negative reaction to it is a bit much. It’s not like it’s moonunit or rainbow and yet people are acting like it is. Some of the commenters who always post negatively about Harry and Meghan are the same who are going on about it so that’s their bias showing. I wouldn’t pick it for my child, but it’s not a horrible name. As for the “it’s a nickname critique”, well why do we care about this? Does anyone think Prince Harry’s kid would ever have to get a normal job and have to go by Archibald? He’s going to be a rich aristo kid and while he may not be saddled with all the royal responsibilities that his cousins will have to deal with, he’s still going to have a very privileged life. Zara seems to have done fine and that is basically Archie’s path.
I don’t get the vitriol either. It’s one of the top 20 boy names in Britain right now, so it’s not like there won’t be plenty of other Archie’s as classmates growing up.
It’s mainly a difference from UK and North America I would say. I don’t like the name for a royal name and specifically because it is so popular, but yet not traditionally royal, it’s just not fitting for a royal baby imo. If it weren’t a royal baby, I think it’s a cute baby name but not an adult name , but honestly I don’t have any strong feelings either way.
But there is no way to sugar coat it, in the US it has long term connotations as both an ugly name (Archie Bunker) or an old fashioned name (Archie from the comics). Not to mention, the thousands and thousands of dogs named Archie across the US.
Well Harry is Henry but he is never called Henry. What is the difference between Harry and Archie, they don’t sound royal but they have now become royal.
It never had anything to do with Charles, none of the media went with him anyway all on the Cambridges.
Todays event is an hours flight and hes already done. Probably alreadsy on his way back. He was away for about 6 hours, thats all.
And its just been announced he’ll be in Oxford next week.
He can do both. Archie is in safe hands with Meghan and Doria for the short time he will be gone.
I don’t understand the dislike for the name, I find it adorable. Prince Harry is actually Prince Henry but literally no one has ever called him that. Harry and Archie, it’s so cute! I can’t wait to watch their relationship as Archie grows up.
I think it’s fine to dislike it because we have personal tastes, but you don’t have to retch at it. It’s a child we’re talking about here. In real life we wouldn’t do this to someone. Even if we dislike a name, we keep it to ourselves. I’m not crazy about all the 4 kids names but I’m not gonna stick my tongue out at them.
It’s not like he left her with a crying baby all alone. She has a lot of help. Big deal….the baby is mostly sleeping and Meghan probably needs her rest too. He left for something that’s really important to him and it’s only for the day.
IMO, there’s a very real chance Meghan was like, “please go, I want a turn to hold the baby” lol.
Hahaha – true. He’s probably like ‘he’s been inside you for 9 months so my turn now’, one of my brothers said that, as a joke, to his wife when his first son was born.
About the name:
At first I hated it, really. But the more I hear it, the more I like it! Now I find
it quite cute actually. Anyway, Obviously his mom and dad love the name, and it is their privilege to name their own child.
🧸
Well said.
When I first heard the name, I wasn’t very pleased. And then I realized that Harry and Megan hadn’t asked for my opinion. The name must mean something to them or they wouldn’t have given it to their beloved baby. It’s got personality and I think Archie will too!
I’ll be willing to bet that in a couple of years, we’ll be wondering why we ever thought Archie wasn’t the perfect name for Baby Sussex.
Some of the photo’s are really good, particularly one of him holding a baby grow with the Invictus logo on it. He’s pulling a face while holding it up to his chest. Like Lainey I want Michael K over at DListed to write a story about that photo – his love/lust for Harry (or as he calls him Prince Hot Ginge) will never die. LOL
He’s probably bummed he didn’t get his night to party in Amsterdam though.
Did he tell you that or are you talking about yourself?
I don’t know Yo-yo. Let me know when you talk to him.
Very cool Harry!
Such cute photos of him with the Invictus baby shirt for Archie, and in the modified Invictus shirt they gave him with “Daddy” added. Princess Margriet looking lovely too.
I’m so happy for them both, you can tell how proud and happy Harry is to be a father. Considering Invictus is his main charity I think his day trip is appropriate. I think they will make wonderful parents.
THIS is what a ‘working royal’ looks like.
Master Archie is in good hands.