The heartbreaking detail in the Royal Family's birthday tributes to Archie you might have missed

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor at a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019
(Image credit: Photo by Toby Melville - Pool/Getty Images)

The Royal Family shared special photo tributes to Archie Mountbatten-Windsor on his 2nd birthday, but there is a truly heartbreaking detail in all of them. 

The Royal Family have paid tribute to Archie Mountbatten-Windsor on his 2nd birthday, but there is one key detail in each of the photos that you might have missed. Little Archie has spent both his birthdays in California since his parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle settled in their new LA home with him after stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family last year. 

Now several of Archie's royal relatives in the UK have shared meaningful photos as he turns 2. The Queen was amongst the first to wish her great-grandson a happy birthday on Instagram, posting a throwback photo of Archie when he was just 2 days old. 

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor during a photocall in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019 in Windsor, England

In it proud parents Harry and Meghan are pictured at Windsor Castle with Archie held carefully in his father’s arms. 

Wishing Archie Mountbatten-Windsor a very happy 2nd birthday today. 🎈’ the caption read. 

Whilst this is undeniably a very sweet photo, there is one obvious detail that some were quick to point out - and it’s devastating. 

‘It’s sad no beautiful updated pics of him’ one wrote, whilst another commented, ‘they don't have any photos of him except this one. this is sad’.

‘Its sad that The Royal Family doesnt have an updated photo of Archie. The heartbreak... 😢’ a fellow royal fan declared. 

It's thought Archie has not seen the Queen and wider Royal Family in person for over a year. This means they have not been there to capture candid shots of him growing up and nor have they been pictured with him since these early days. 

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town

Similar observations have also been made on the birthday tributes posted by his grandfather Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, and Prince William and Kate Middleton

Charles and Camilla’s post featured Charles looking adoringly at baby Archie in his christening gown as he’s held by Harry. Whilst William and Kate also opted for a christening shot - this time the official snap of the immediate family inside the palace on that special day. 

As with the Queen’s post, people noticed the age of the photos, with one commenting on Charles’ tribute: ‘Shame they'll have to use this photo every year’

With little Archie growing up an ocean away, the Queen and Royal Family likely miss him greatly, sharing such treasured photos on this special day.

Emma Shacklock
Senior Lifestyle Writer

Emma is a Senior Lifestyle Writer with six years of experience working in digital publishing, ranging from book publishing to magazines. She currently looks after all things Lifestyle for Woman&Home, Goodto.com, and My Imperfect Life.