Prince Harry, who shares his children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet with Meghan Markle, has often spoken about how his own upbringing has influenced the way he parents today.
Having grown up under intense public attention as the son of now-King Charles III and the late Princess Diana, the Duke of Sussex is said to be very conscious of protecting his children from similar scrutiny. Archie recently turned 7 on May 6, and the Sussex family continues to prioritize privacy and individuality in their home life.
According to a source speaking to PEOPLE magazine, Harry and Meghan are focused on allowing their children the freedom to develop their own personalities without pressure or external expectations. The insider explained that this approach is especially important to Harry, given how public his own childhood was.
“They give their kids space to be themselves — for their different personalities to flourish,” the source said, adding that this kind of environment matters deeply to Harry after his early life in the spotlight.
This perspective aligns with comments Harry made during a four-day visit to Australia in April, where he attended a Movember-related event. Speaking about modern parenting, he reflected on how much has changed since he was raised in the royal household.
Harry described children today as part of an “evolution” in parenting, saying, “Our kids are our upgrade,” while clarifying that he does not see it as replacing or ranking generations, but rather acknowledging how parenting adapts over time.
He also emphasized that parenting is a continuous learning process without blame or judgment, noting that most parents aim to improve as they go.
In addition, Harry has been open about the role therapy has played in his life. He has said that working through past experiences was important for him before becoming a father, as he wanted to be in a healthier mindset for his children.
“I knew that I had stuff from the past that I needed to deal with,” he previously shared, explaining that addressing personal challenges helped him become the best version of himself for Archie and Lilibet.
