Whether or not you're a parent yourself, I think we can all agree that naming a child must be a pretty tough decision (see here for some baby name inspiration, if you're currently in the process of naming a little one!) – and it's no exception for royalty either.
During her recent trip to the Netherlands to watch the Invictus Games, along with husband Prince Harry, Meghan Markle is said to have opened up to a member of the public about the difficulty she and the Duke faced, when it came to choosing a name for their eldest child. Who, as we all now know, is a son they ultimately named Archie Harrison.
However, the Duchess of Sussex shared that it certainly wasn't an easy choice and that she and the Duke were stuck between two names in particular. When speaking to a woman named Mandy, the wife of Sherry McBain (an RAF nursing officer who competed in the Games), Meghan revealed that the couple came close to giving Archie his middle name - Harrison - as a first name.
Recounting the story, Sherry said [via Daily Mail] how she and Mandy have a child named Harrison, and that the Duchess pointed out the similarities. "[Meghan] was like 'Harrison, that's Archie's middle name', and Mandy was like 'Yeah, I know!'. They were just having a chat because Harry and Meghan couldn't decide between Archie and Harrison for the first name." So, it really does sound like things could've been very different!
Whilst over in Europe, the couple are believed to have stopped by to visit the Queen for a catch-up too. It was also reported that the couple met up with the Duke's father, Prince Charles during their visit to Windsor Castle, which is the Queen's main residence.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
