Meghan Markle celebrated her eldest son Prince Archie turning seven on Wednesday, May 6, by posting a heartfelt birthday tribute on Instagram.
The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex shared two touching photos with her 4.5 million followers. One image showed baby Archie lying on his father Prince Harry’s chest shortly after birth, while the second featured Archie alongside his younger sister Princess Lilibet walking on a sunny beach with their backs turned toward the camera.
Meghan captioned the post: “7 years later… happy birthday to our sweet boy”
Fans quickly filled social media with emotional reactions to the “then and now” photos. One admirer wrote, “This is such a beautiful and wholesome moment. My heart is full.” Another commented on how much the Sussex children resemble the Spencer side of the family, especially their noticeable auburn hair.
Others celebrated Archie directly, calling him “the most adorable ginger boy” while wishing him a happy seventh birthday.
Still, critics soon focused on one detail they claimed was missing from the tribute: Archie’s actual name.
Some online users pointed out that Meghan referred to him only as “our sweet boy” instead of mentioning him directly. One critic complained, “She doesn’t even say Archie’s name,” while another added, “Poor kid.” Others also claimed Meghan rarely uses Harry’s name publicly either.
The birthday post arrived shortly after Meghan shared astrology-themed Instagram Stories, including one post that read: “Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius ending the hardest seven years of their lives on April 25th.”
That message sparked widespread speculation online, with many wondering whether it referenced the difficult years she and Harry have faced since stepping away from royal duties in early 2020 before relocating to California with Archie. The couple later welcomed Lilibet in 2021.
Over the years, Meghan has repeatedly spoken about online harassment and media scrutiny. During a recent appearance at Swinburne University of Technology alongside young people connected to the mental health group Batyr, she described herself as “the most trolled person in the world.”
“For 10 years, every single day, I’ve been bullied and attacked,” she said while discussing the impact of online abuse.
