The public has been dying to get a glimpse of Archie Harrison on the Sussexes' royal tour of southern Africa. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle delivered, bringing the 4-month-old along for their meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter, Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe.
"Arch meets Archie!" a sweet shot of the moment was captioned on the Sussex Royal Instagram story. The couple could be heard whispering that to their baby boy as they walked toward the meeting.
The duke and duchess were unsure whether Archie would take part in any of the tour's events because of the unpredictable nature of an infant's schedule. It's clear that everyone is thrilled they were able to make this work.
Archie was all smiles as he sat on his mother's lap. "He's an old soul," Meghan commented, according to People.
"I think he is used to it already," said Harry of the cameras in the room.
Archie was simply adorable throughout the short visit. He'll stay back with Meghan in Cape Town while Harry travels through other areas in Africa over the next several days. It's unclear if Archie will make any other appearances with his mother during that time. The family will reunite for the final day of the tour in Johannesburg.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal tour of southern Africa has been in the works for months. While people were excited to see what kind of work the couple would do in the area, there was something else on the minds of many: Archie.
At first, fans of the Sussexes were eager to learn whether or not baby Archie, who is nearly 5 months old, would join the couple on the trip. They later found out that he would, in fact, embark on his first royal tour.
Representatives for Harry and Meghan kept realistic expectations for the trip. They informed the public that while Archie would be there, it couldn't be determined whether or not he would join his parents for any of their engagements.
Eagle-eyed fans of the royal family were on the lookout for Archie as soon as the family touched down in Cape Town on Monday. Photos of the family stepping off the commercial flight they took showed Archie wearing a white pom-pom hat and wrapped in a white blanket.
The hat was a nod to the first time Prince Harry traveled with his parents, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana. Diana had dressed Harry in a very similar hat as they stepped off the plane in Scotland in 1985.
Archie stayed with his nanny as Harry and Meghan went to their first event of the day at Justice Desk. There, CEO and founder Jessica Dewhurst presented the family with Archie's African name.
"When your beautiful boy was born you gave him the name Archie," she said, according to People. "The name Archie means ‘bravery and strength.’ So to welcome Archie home, your family at the Justice Desk has given him the traditional South African name Ntsika. This name of Xhosa African origin means ‘pillar of strength.’ May you always be a pillar of strength for those who need you."
Later in the day, an excited fan who met the couple asked about Archie. "He's sleeping," Harry said with a smile. He explained the long flight tired the baby boy out. "He's not grouchy, just exhausted."
Fans finally got the moment they were waiting for on Wednesday. Meghan and Harry stepped out with Archie in tow for their meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter, Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe.
In a video shared on the Sussex Royal Instagram story, Harry has an arm around Meghan. He tells Archie "You get to meet Arch!" which the baby boy responded to with a giggle that made his parents laugh.
Meghan, Harry, and Archie spent half an hour with the archbishop and his daughter at Legacy Foundation in Cape Town. The building has a somber history, having been constructed by enslaved people centuries ago.
Archie was all smiles as he sat on Meghan's lap during the visit. "He's an old soul," the Duchess of Sussex remarked at one point. "I think he is used to it already," Harry added about the cameras in the room, which didn't seem to phase Archie.
Thandeka had some jokes ready for the little boy. "You like me, don’t you? You like the ladies better, don’t you? That’s interesting! He’s going to be a ladies’ man," she said, per People, to which everyone laughed in response.
Many fans who have watched Prince Harry grow up have marveled at how closely Archie resembles him. The little boy even seems to be starting to grow some little patches of red hair, just like dad.
Archie will stay with Meghan in Cape Town while Harry travels to other areas for engagements. It's unclear if Archie will appear with Meghan at any of her engagements during that time. The family will be reunited in Johannesburg on the final day of the tour.
