Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Spotted on the Beach with Son, Igniting a Stir

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's latest beach outing with their son, Prince Archie, has sparked a wave of reactions online, with fans divided over the royal couple's parenting choices during the sunny family day in California.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex enjoyed a fun day out at Santa Claus Beach in Carpinteria, California, on August 1, 2025, as their son, Prince Archie, took surfing lessons.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan spent time together on the sand as they watched Archie, 6, enjoy the water. Their daughter, Princess Lilibet, was not pictured at the beach with them.

Harry sported a gray shirt and a pair of black shorts for the laid-back occasion, camouflaging himself from the crowd with a tan baseball cap. Meanwhile, Meghan wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, paired with shorts and a large beige sun hat to shield her face from the sun.

Fans were left divided by the family outing. While some praised the couple for encouraging their son's adventurous spirit, others criticized them for what they saw as risky parenting.

"Out there, living their best lives. Oh, this makes me so happy for them😍😍👏👏," one supporter praised. "Omg 6 already, he's getting so big," a second gushed.

"Let's not focus on the parents. It's good to see Archie not sheltered," a third person commented. "Archie is gonna be so cool 🫶🏽 real cali boy ✨️💯, [sic]" another supporter added.

However, not everyone was pleased. "Your 6yo son are on sea having lessons with someone and you don't watch them closely? Don’t you worry about it? [sic]" someone shared in disbelief. "6yo is still too young and they look really far away from the sea and not paying attention at all. [sic]"

"And they were kind enough to call the paparazzi to share it with the world," a netizen slammed. "They aren't even watching or looking for Archie in a shark-infested, riptide-filled, tsunami-threatened ocean," a Reddit comment read. "Not paying one iota of attention to their 6-year-old on the beach. A recipe for disaster," agreed another.

Although Harry and Meghan appeared united during their recent beach outing, a previous report indicates that tensions may be simmering behind the scenes. According to a royal editor, differing views on how much of their children's lives should be shared publicly could be a growing point of friction between the couple.

In a recent episode of HELLO!'s "A Right Royal" podcast, The Sun's royal editor Matt Wilkinson claimed Prince Harry isn't entirely aligned with Meghan's decision to feature their children in her growing public and media presence.

Though their faces are typically hidden, the children have become more visible in curated posts and appearances. When asked directly about Harry's stance on the increased social media exposure of their children, Matt responded, "I don't particularly mind her putting pictures of the children on, but I think Harry probably is not overly happy."

The couple's differing views on privacy were at the center of the conversation. "My understanding of this, or up to a certain stage, is that Harry would much rather his children were not seen. He doesn't want them to be papped," the editor explained.

"He's got this idea that if he takes them outside of Montecito, that there's a horde of us out there trying to take pictures of his kids. They're not, by the way. Whereas Meghan — you know, she's [sic] grew up in California — she wants her children to have a more kind of California-style lifestyle. You know, take them down to the beach, go out, do stuff. She doesn't want to hide them away," he added.

Reflecting on Harry's reluctance to expose his children, the editor attributed it to his upbringing. "It's a different culture, I think Harry's living in," he stated. "A lifestyle [different] from the way things were when he was a child[...] it's not like that anymore."

Matt also weighed in on how Meghan's branding overlaps with motherhood. He continued, "You could argue that Megan isn't exploiting the children, she's just... well, maybe she is exploiting them, but she's using them to display her brand because she's a mother, remember?... I remember there's one episode of 'With Love, Megan' where they have the children's party and there were no children…"

These comments follow the release of Meghan's new Netflix series, which debuted last month in the platform's top 10 across 24 countries, pulling in 2.6 million views. The series follows her shift from royal life to her new role as a lifestyle entrepreneur and mother, with a second season already in production.

Netflix, which signed a production deal with Harry and Meghan in 2020, is also reportedly backing her new lifestyle brand, As Ever. The brand, which was originally called American Riviera Orchard, includes baking mixes, honeys, and jams priced from $12 to $15. A spokesperson confirmed the products sold out within an hour of launch.

The duchess also made headlines after welcoming a New York Times journalist into her Montecito kitchen. This marked the first time media were allowed into her home under strict no-photo conditions. At 43, Meghan said she remains driven by both passion and necessity.

"I need to work, and I love to work," she told the publication. "This is a way I can connect my home life and my work." She shared that until meeting Harry, she had worked consistently since the age of 13.

Since launching a new Instagram account on January 1, 2025, Meghan has gained 2.7 million followers. Many of the clothes featured on her ShopMy page have sold out within hours. Though some critics question her choices, celebrity chef Carla Hall offered perspective, stating, "Everybody has somebody or something they want her to be. There's no winning that game."

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are sixth and seventh in line to the British throne. Their upbringing in California has drawn comparisons to both traditional royal expectations and modern celebrity parenting norms.