Topics: Royal Family, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, changed a key part of their son Archie's birth certificate in a shock move in 2019.
The family have been a major part of the spotlight ever since their relationship came to light, and people have been hooked to every new detail.
To remind you of the key details, Meghan and Harry first started dating back in 2016 and their romance became public knowledge that same year.
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Clearly besotted with one another, they announced their engagement in November 2017 and were married in a televised wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018.
The duchess' first pregnancy was announced the following year, with their son, Archie, arriving in 2019.
Despite Meghan's inclusion in the royal family suggesting forthcoming times of hope and progression, due to her being a woman of colour, controversy followed with cruel headlines being published by tabloids.
And with news coming to light of the pair changing a key detail on their son's birth certificate, it's likely to further stoke the fire.
Born on 6 May, 2019, his birth was registered 11 days after his birth and then an alteration was made on 5 June.
Archie's birth certificate doesn't list 'Rachel Meghan Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex' as his mum as it did in the beginning - rather simply 'Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex'.
The Sun suggested at the time: "The unprecedented move could be seen as a snub to the Cambridges who have included Kate’s names on her children’s certificates."
This was later proven to be false, as royal reporter Omid Scobie shared a statement from a spokesperson for Meghan, which included: "The change of name on public documents in 2019 was dictated by The Palace."
It later confirms: "This was not dictated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, nor the Duke of Sussex."
As for why controversy seems intent on following the pair, in 2020, Meghan and Harry made the choice to step back from their duties as senior royals.
Following the spate of cruel headlines following their marriage, the most shocking bombshell was yet to come.
Following the 2021 birth of their daughter, Lilibet (a nickname for Elizabeth, the now-late Queen), the couple sat down for an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Meghan opened up about a member of the royal household making derogatory comments about how dark Archie's skin would be while she was pregnant.
She also claimed her treatment, including by the press, had a profound impact on her mental health, and she had suicidal thoughts.
The pair then chose to move away from the spotlight and work and live in L.A, where they run their not-for-profit organisation Archewell.
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
