Archie, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, celebrated his fourth birthday with a private and intimate party at their luxurious mansion in Montecito, California.
The young prince enjoyed a special lemon cake baked by his mother, using fruit from their garden.
Sources close to the Sussexes revealed that Archie’s cousins took center stage at the recent coronation, while he enjoyed a quiet celebration at home.
Prince Harry, after attending the coronation service, hurriedly left to catch a flight from Heathrow Airport to Los Angeles.
He was determined to make it back in time to spend part of Archie’s birthday with him.
Accompanied by tight security, Prince Harry boarded a blacked-out electric BMW and headed to the VIP Windsor suite at Heathrow.
His flight was scheduled to depart at 3:45 pm, landing in Los Angeles at 6:55 pm local time.
From there, it would take approximately 90 minutes to reach Montecito.
It is speculated that some of Archie’s parents’ celebrity friends, such as Oprah Winfrey, might have attended the small gathering.
When asked about the guest list, a source mentioned that celebrities were likely to be present, adding to the exclusive and intimate nature of the celebration.
In a video statement, Omid Scobie, a spokesperson for Meghan Markle, mistakenly stated that Archie was six years old.
However, he quickly corrected himself, clarifying that Archie had turned four.
This slip-up caused some confusion, leading to speculation about Archie’s actual birth date.
On King Charles’ third coronation day, Meesan Harriman, a close friend of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, took to social media to wish Archie a happy birthday.
Harriman shared a screenshot from the couple’s Netflix series, where baby Archie is seen touching a photo of his late grandmother, Princess Diana.
The timing of this post, coinciding with Charles’ coronation day, raised eyebrows and sparked curiosity among royal watchers.
The absence of a public birthday party for Archie in Montecito further fueled speculation.
However, it is worth noting that King Charles and Princess Diana’s complicated relationship, which ended in divorce in 1996, continues to capture public interest.
Diana’s untimely death in a car accident in 1997 only intensified the fascination surrounding their story.
Many royalists took the opportunity to remember Diana on the day she would have potentially been crowned queen.
Prince Harry, having arrived in the UK on Friday, attended his father’s coronation without Meghan Markle.
There were concerns that the star-studded guest list at Archie’s birthday party might overshadow the solemnity of the ceremony.
Among the speculated invitees were Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, close friends of the couple.
However, it seems that Katy Perry attended the coronation, while Orlando Bloom had work commitments in Japan.
In Montecito, where celebrities are considered royalty, Lisa Gachet, an LA-based author and etiquette teacher, explained that it is common for children of similar ages to be invited to each other’s parties.
Considering this, it is likely that Archie’s friends, along with local celebrities like Serena Williams, who is pregnant with her second child, and Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, whose daughter Daisy is a year younger than Archie, were in attendance.
Despite reports suggesting that Archie barely knows his extended family, it is expected that Prince Charles and Princess Diana will send him a birthday present.
Although they have not seen him since early 2020, the gesture reflects the familial bond they share.
Archie’s fourth birthday celebration was a private affair, allowing him to enjoy a low-key party with his parents and close friends.
As he grows older, the world eagerly awaits glimpses into his life and the milestones he will continue to reach.