Meghan Markle recently disclosed her decision to keep her son, Archie, away from schools in the UK due to safety concerns.
In an interview with journalist Alison P. Davies for New York magazine The Cut, Meghan explained that she feared for both her and Archie’s safety, making it impossible for her to participate in school pickup and drop-off activities without attracting media attention.
She firmly believes that her stance demonstrates her strength and ability as a parent.
Currently, Archie attends preschool in Montecito, California.
The conversation with Alison P. Davies shed light on Meghan’s aspirations for the life she is building in California.
Meghan expressed that if Archie were attending school in the UK, every school event would become a royal photo opportunity, with a press pen of 40 people capturing every moment.
Meghan emphasized her discomfort with this situation, stating that it is not about an obsession with privacy but rather about her responsibility as a protective parent.
However, it appears that security concerns may not be the only reason behind Meghan’s decision.
Critics argue that Meghan hastily relocated a child who was not her own from England to the United States, raising questions about the child’s identity as he grows older and enters school.
Furthermore, Meghan now faces a new challenge as neither public nor private schools in California are accepting Archie due to issues surrounding his birth certificate and medical records.
It is common knowledge that American children need birth certificates for various purposes, such as school enrollment, obtaining a driver’s license, applying for a passport, or seeking admission to college.
Meghan mentioned that she cannot apply for a copy of Archie’s birth certificate because the palace has sealed his records.
In England and Wales, the General Register Office maintains public records of births, deaths, and marriages since 1837.
Anyone can request a copy of a birth certificate as long as they know the name and date of birth.
Birth certificates come in two forms: the short form and the long form, which includes detailed information about the parents.
While Meghan and Harry have been secretive about Archie’s exact birth date, providing incorrect information on the birth certificate is considered a criminal offense, akin to perjury.
By removing her name from Archie’s birth certificate, Meghan may have sought to protect herself and avoid potential legal consequences.
If Archie was born via a surrogate in the US, with Meghan and Harry providing the fertilized egg, the surrogate would have no legal standing or relation to the child.
Consequently, only Meghan would be registered as the mother, technically making her the legal parent.
In the UK, however, the surrogate would be recognized as the legal mother since she gave birth to the child.
Subsequently, the child would need to be legally adopted by the intended parents.
If the surrogate is married or in a civil partnership, their spouse or civil partner would automatically become the child’s second parent, unless they did not provide consent.