Meghan Markle on 'Day Dates' with Son Archie, 5, and Why Daughter Lilibet, 3, Appears on Her New Website (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, photographed in Montecito, California, in June 2024.Photo:Jake Rosenberg/Courtesy Netflix

Jake Rosenberg/Courtesy Netflix

Meghan Markle’s life in Montecito, California, is all about finding balance between her family, work and the joy of everyday moments.

In anintimate interview with PEOPLEfor this week’s cover story, the Duchess of Sussex shares what life is like with her two young children,Prince Archie, 5, andPrincess Lilibet, 3.

“I’m up before my kids are, so I’m normally up at 6:30, and then I get them up and dressed for the day, and we go downstairs," she says. “I love making breakfast for my family.”

Their favorite is “surprise” pancakes, she shares. “They don’t know what’s going to be on the other side when it flips over,” explains Meghan, who picks from rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips or blueberries in the shape of a smiley face.

“Of course they love [toast with] jam and fresh fruit preserves, because they were such a part of me making them and picking all that fruit during berry season for all of our canning,” she says. “My husband and Archie both love fried eggs. There’s a lot of bacon around here. And then sometimes you don’t have time for all that, and you just put a frozen waffle in the toaster and call it a day. And there’s no shame in that either.”

Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie.Archewell

Archewell

On weekends and school breaks, she looks forward to “day dates” with her son. “Archie and I like to go and have lunch, share a burger and a Caesar salad, and have an ice cream sundae with two cherries on top,” she says.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex photographed in Montecito, California, in March 2024.

Meghan has fully embraced the rhythms of life with young children, including 5:30 p.m. “Boca dinners,” as she and Harry call them, and school parent group chats.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (in June 2024) with late dog Guy in the kitchen set of With Love, Meghan.Jake Rosenberg/Courtesy Netflix

While she may not have filmed her newNetflix series,With Love, Meghan, inside their home, Meghan found ways to incorporate home life into the show, filming in their chicken coop, garden and orchard.

“Archie did the [filming clapboard]! Sweet moments,” she says. “They would also come with my husband and visit me on-set, and I loved that my children were able to watch me working and see the balance of that and understand what Mama does and is working to create and share. It was really special because up until then, they hadn’t seen me at work.”

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and daughter Princess Lilibet in the ‘As ever’ landing page.Courtesy of As Ever

Courtesy of As Ever

The landing page of As Ever (asever.com), Meghan’s new lifestyle brand, which is set to launch this spring,features a photoof her and daughter Lilibet walking hand in hand through their sun-dappled backyard.

For Meghan, including Lili — who carries the namesake of Harry’s beloved late grandmother,Queen Elizabeth— was a meaningful choice.

“Being able to have my own little girl, as I’ve spent so much of my life championing the rights of girls and women, and to be able to see this as a multigenerational story — Archie is of course included in that, my husband is of course included in that — but I love the heritage feeling of it and knowing this is something that I can create in front of my daughter and teach her what it’s like to be a working mom,” she says. “This is something that hopefully can be part of her legacy too.”

source: people.com