Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's eldest son, Prince Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, celebrated his fifth birthday on a bright spring day in California, USA, and this milestone moment once again witnessed the trajectory of the young royal family's growth in the fusion of tradition and modernity.
According to British media on May 6, Archie was born in Portland Hospital in London on May 6, 2019, and started his life journey in an atmosphere of electric candlelight and affectionate remembrance of his late grandmother, Princess Diana.
Harry describes Archie's birth as "an incredible experience", heralding a unique path for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex while respecting the past.
A few months later, Harry and Meghan announced that they would retire from their duties as senior royals and move their family to the United States, creating a peaceful life away from the spotlight for Archie and his sister Lilibet, who was born later.
From their home in Montecito, California, they showcased heartwarming family moments through the Netflix docuseries: Archie chasing seagulls on the beach, picking oranges in her orchard, and playing with the family's two pet dogs. These scenes not only show Harry and Meghan's deep love for their children, but also reveal their determination to find balance in their unconventional royal lives.
As Archie celebrates his fifth birthday, a celebration of intimacy, simplicity and Hollywood stellar is in the works.
According to royal commentator Tom Quinn, the party will be held in a low-key format, with games such as "Blind Man Touching the Elephant" and "Hide and Seek", which reflects Meghan's emphasis on simple happiness and hopes that children can experience the happiness of ordinary people in the extraordinary royal life. The birthday celebration will be a combination of royal tradition and American casualness, reflecting the uniqueness of Archie's dual identity.
Meghan, with her meticulous planning skills, will ensure that Archie's birthday is full of meaning and not overly extravagant, retaining the solemnity of the royal celebration without losing the warmth of daily life. The homemade lemon cake, made from her own garden, symbolizes her desire for her children to enjoy ordinary pleasures even in high positions.
It is understood that in addition to Archie's preschoolers, Meghan's mother Doria La Grande and a number of celebrity neighbors, such as Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom and their daughter Daisy, are expected to participate in the celebration, further highlighting the integration of the Sussex family in the new community.
Last year, Archie's birthday party was also arranged in a warm and intimate way, and Meghan created a happy little world for her son with the elaborate decoration of the home. Decorations, balloons and streamers transform their mansion into a jubilant playground limited to family members and a handful of close friends, including Doria and Meghan's friend Victoria Jackson, in a commitment to protecting their children's privacy from the public eye.
This year, when Archie blows out the candles in front of the fifth birthday cake, surrounded by laughter, family affection and the warm California sun, the celebration is not only a commemoration of Archie's growth, but also a testimony to Harry and Meghan's efforts as parents to write a new chapter in the history of the royal family.