Prince Archie, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, will celebrate his fifth birthday this year and there are a number of reasons why it could be his biggest year yet

2024 is setting up to be a monumental year for the young royal, Prince Archie, as he hits his first major milestone – turning five, and will potentially be making more habitual public appearances with his parents. The son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, since their controversial step back from Royal duties back in 2020, has had a relatively secluded upbringing, with his notoriously private parents only sporadically sharing snippets of their lives with their firstborn child, Archie (4), and his younger sister Lilibet (2).

In a rare and surprising disclosure about Archie’s life on James Corden’s The Late Late Show in 2021, the doting dad, Harry, delighted Royal fans all over by revealing that his son’s inaugural word was a complicated one – ‘crocodile’, gifted to him by none other than his great grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. As Harry divulged whilst on a tour of LA atop a double-decker bus: “My son is now over a year and a half, he is hysterical, he’s got the most amazing personality, he’s already putting two, three words together, he’s already singing songs. His first word was ‘crocodile’, three syllables.”

Harry and Meghan with their son Archie in 2019 ( Image: Toby Melville – Pool/Getty Images)

This year could be a big one for Prince Archie as he turns five years old ( Image: alexilubomirski/Instagram)

Meghan, ever the model mother, revealed during a chat with The Cut in 2022 how she takes teaching Archie etiquette very seriously. She shared: “We always tell him, ‘Manners make the man. Manners, manners, manners, manners, manners’.”

Another glimpse into their family life was offered when they launched their Netflix docu-series in 2022, opening up their Montecito home in California to the cameras. Now, with Prince Archie on the cusp of his fifth birthday, this year could be a game-changer for the young Royal, as per OK!.

Starting school

This year marks a significant chapter for Archie as he’s set to embark on his educational journey by starting elementary school. Unlike UK kids who hit the classroom after their fourth birthday, stateside youngsters typically begin their schooling at five or six years old.

The exact school Archie will attend remains under wraps, but Montecito local Richard Mineards has hinted at a wealth of top-notch schools in the vicinity for Meghan and Harry to consider. Speaking to HELLO!, Mineards said, “We have very good schools, which are not like England public schools but they’re state schools. And we have a very good one called Cold Spring School which has got great ratings and that’s in their catchment area.”

Hugh Grosvenor, the seventh Duke of Westminster and the godfather of Prince Archie, is getting married this year ( Image: PA)

He added, “So if Archie then follows through getting a state education, the next stop after this pre-school he goes to is going to be some sort of junior school. We have a very good junior school here called Montecito Union School which is very, very good, has a lot of Tony names attending, children of the rich and famous. Then, as I say, he could go to Cold Springs or maybe they’ll say that ‘Hey, we want to follow a private education’.”

This year, Archie might be making a return to the UK for two significant reasons. Following his father, King Charles’ shocking cancer revelation, Harry made an urgent trip back to the UK, suggesting that more visits could be in store for the Sussex family as they rally around the monarch.

Another reason for Archie’s potential return is the upcoming wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster. As Archie’s godfather, Hugh is set to marry Olivia Henson on June 7th.

There could be a cousins reunion on the cards this year ( Image: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

While it remains unconfirmed whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the wedding, or if they’ll bring their young children along, the dual citizenship held by both Archie and Lilibet in the US and UK could make travel for the Royal event straightforward.

Royal Reunion

Should these UK trips materialise, it could also mean a reunion for Archie with his Royal cousins after months of separation. The Duke of Westminster also happens to be Prince George’s godfather, meaning the Sussexes could reunite with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis if they attend Hugh’s wedding.

During their Netflix series, Harry and Meghan offered a glimpse inside their family life in California ( Image: Netflix)

Given Hugh’s role as godfather to both Archie and George, they could potentially play a part in his forthcoming wedding, although this has yet to be announced. Depending on the progress of the princess’s cancer recovery, the wedding could also see appearances from Prince William and Kate Middleton.