Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have shared only select details about life with their children, which makes small family stories stand out. One of those moments came during a visit to the Netherlands in April 2022, when the couple attended the Invictus Games in The Hague. While meeting spectators and competitors, Meghan spoke about son Archie and the name he almost received. The detail offered a rare glimpse into a decision many parents know well: narrowing down two favorites before settling on the one that feels right.
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Meghan Mentioned Harrison During The Hague Chat
During a conversation with British team participant Sherry McBain and her wife, Meghan referred to another name once considered for Archie. She said, "Harrison, that's Archie's middle name." The exchange quickly drew interest because it suggested the couple had seriously weighed that option as a first name. Archie, born in May 2019, ultimately received the full name Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The moment was brief and casual, but it added a personal note to the couple’s public appearance at the international sporting competition.
Sherry McBain Shared How The Choice Was Made
Sherry McBain later described more of that conversation. "They [Meghan and the wife] were just having a chat because Harry and Meghan couldn't decide between Archie and Harrison for the first name," Sherry McBain told People Magazine. That account points to a simple compromise: Archie became the first name, while Harrison stayed as the middle name. For royal watchers, it was an unusual insight into a private decision. It also showed that even high-profile parents can spend time going back and forth between two names before making the final call.
Archie’s Name Fits a More Personal Family Approach
The choice of Archie reflected the couple’s more personal tone as new parents. Rather than leaning on a traditional royal first name, they went with one that felt modern and warm. Harrison still remained part of their son’s identity, linking both of their preferred options in a single name. As reported by allvipp.com, the pair did not place the biggest importance on the label itself. What mattered more was the kind of person their son would become as he grew up within a family living far more privately than previous royal generations.
Harry Spoke About Character at the Opening Ceremony
That focus came through in Harry’s remarks during the opening of the competition. "And nothing would make his mum and me prouder than to see him have the character of what we see before us," said Prince Harry according to allvipp.com. His words tied family life to the values celebrated at the sporting event: resilience, service and strength. Since stepping back from senior royal duties and moving to the United States in 2020, Harry and Meghan have repeatedly emphasized the kind of world they want for Archie and Lilibet, with character placed above titles or public image.
