Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s five-year-old son Archie has been described as a “delightful little boy” by a fellow parent at his Montecito school.
The revelation came in a recent column by Richard Mineards in the Montecito Journal, offering a rare glimpse into the young royal’s school life.
The columnist wrote: “Harry and Meghan have rarely exposed their children, Archie and Lilibet, to the limelight, although a friend whose son is in the same school class as Archie tells me he is a delightful little boy.”
Archie began his first year of compulsory education last autumn in the US school system.
Prince Archie described as ‘delightful’ as young royal begins school in Montecito
Netflix / Getty
Whilst the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have maintained strict privacy regarding their son’s education, reports suggest they were considering two of the “premiere private schools” in Santa Barbara County.
The five-year-old’s transition to formal schooling reportedly caused some concern for Prince Harry during a Colombia trip last August.
A royal insider told Woman’s Day: “Harry didn’t realise how close to his first day of school it would be, but Meghan assured him they’d be back in time and it wouldn’t impact on Archie’s big day.”
Prior to starting formal education, Archie attended pre-school in Montecito, where he “proved popular with his classmates”, according to Australian magazine Woman’s Day.
The young prince’s father appeared preoccupied during their Colombia trip, with sources noting his evident concern about missing Archie’s important milestone.
“It was pretty clear he didn’t want to be there and had Archie on his mind the whole time”, a source told Woman’s Day.
A recent photo of Archie enjoying a surf school day with his father was briefly shared on Instagram by Tahitian pro surfer Raimana Van Bastolaer, before being removed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have consistently prioritised their children’s privacy since moving to Montecito.
Richard Mineards noted in his column that Harry and Meghan have been particularly careful about limiting their children’s exposure to the public eye.
The couple has never publicly disclosed which educational institution Archie attends, though local reports confirm it is one of Santa Barbara County’s top private schools.
A brief glimpse into Archie’s life emerged when a photo of him at surf school with Prince Harry was shared on social media, though it was swiftly removed.
Prince Harry’s concerns about his son’s school experience appear to stem from his own memories of starting education.
The royal insider revealed to Woman’s Day: “Nothing they were doing in Colombia seemed as important as how Archie was feeling and Harry was suffering from a severe case of the dad guilts.
“He remembers his first day at school with his mum and William at his side, encouraging him every step of the way.”
