This stunning collection of intimate images opens the door to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s private world in Montecito, offering a tender glimpse into life with their two children.
Behind the gates of their sprawling Montecito estate, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are raising their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in a world deliberately designed to be calm, safe, and deeply personal.
In rare and tender glimpses, the couple has offered the public precious windows into life at home — a life Meghan says she once only dreamed about.
Life at Home in Montecito
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has often spoken about how deeply she cherishes being a mother to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
During a panel on women in leadership in May 2024, she opened up with striking candor, reflecting on how motherhood has transformed her:
“Being a mom has always been a dream of mine. And I’m so fortunate that we have two beautiful, healthy, very chatty, sweet children.”
She repeated the sentiment with heartfelt conviction, “I love being a mom, I love being a mom.”
A Carefully Guarded Childhood, and the Pain That Shaped It
Though the Sussexes’ $14 million home is often pictured as a sunlit sanctuary, they remain intensely protective of what lies beyond the front door.
In August 2024, a close friend revealed to PEOPLE just how fiercely Prince Harry guards his children’s security, saying, “Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats.”
“He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm,” the friend continued.
They also emphasized that the prince hopes his children can live as normal a life as possible — one untouched by the fear and intrusion he’s known all too well.
The reason for that caution is painfully clear. The 1997 death of Princess Diana reportedly still haunts Prince Harry’s approach to fatherhood.
Royal editor Matt Wilkinson touched on the emotional toll, explaining, “My understanding of this is that up to a certain stage, Harry would much rather his children were not seen. He doesn’t want them to be papped. He’s got this idea that if he takes them outside of Montecito, that there is a hoard of us out there trying to take photos of his kids.”
The royal editor added pointedly, “Harry is probably not overly happy” about the ongoing scrutiny.
Sweet Snaps, Cherished Memories, and Echoes of Diana
Yet amid the firm boundaries, Meghan and Prince Harry have shared just enough on their social media to remind the world that their little ones are growing and deeply loved.
At the 2024 WellChild Awards, the Prince offered a charming peek into their home life, revealing his children may have inherited their mother’s signature tresses.
“Archie and Lili have been blessed with their mother’s thick hair,” he shared. He’s also spoken about the connection he sees between his children and the beloved parent he lost too soon.
During an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the duke admitted, “The Spencer gene is very, very strong,” adding that he sees Diana, Princess of Wales, in both Archie and Lilibet.
Meanwhile, Meghan has taken to preserving their family’s everyday magic in a touching, digital way. In her April 2025 podcast debut, she revealed:
“Before I go to bed, almost every night, I email them. […] They will end up at one point in their life, maybe when they’re 16 or when they’re 18, that I say, ‘Here’s an email that I’ve been keeping for you.'”
Life Lessons Among the Lettuce – How Meghan’s Teaching Her Children to Stay Grounded
However, it’s not just quiet love that fills their home — there’s also learning, work, and purpose. In June 2025, Meghan described how daily gardening with the children is more than play — it’s a hands-on way to teach values.
“It teaches them patience, teaches them to value and appreciate their food,” she shared. The duchess also emphasized that their garden serves as a classroom in more ways than one — from growing and harvesting to sharing their produce within the local community.
She further underscored her desire for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to grow up with gratitude and awareness, even within privilege.
“So, really starting to understand as they’re learning counting and numbers and all of those things, that there’s a cost and a price for things,” she stated.
“And I think that’s key for children to understand that, especially children who are very lucky to have a home that has privilege. You need to know that, just like manners, and taking care of the things around you, there is a value on things,” the duchess continued.
Together, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have built a life centered on protection, purpose, and presence — quietly raising Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet away from the spotlight, but with intention and love at every turn.
