Sad reason why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry hide Archie and Lilibet’s faces

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have always done their best to keep their family life private, especially after they welcomed their children - Archie, in 2019 and Lilibet back in June 2021.

It's widely known that the pair try to maintain the privacy of their kids, particularly since they stepped away from the royal family and moved to California in 2020.

For example, in the family's Christmas card last year, fans pointed out that the children's faces were hidden.

"On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we wish you a very happy holiday season, and a joyful new year," the card read.

It featured an image of Archie and Lilibet, running towards their parents and facing away from the camera.

The last time that the royal youngsters were seen in public with the consent of Harry and Meghan, was in their titular 2022 documentary, which was released on Netflix and included footage of the children playing in their Montecito home.

Since then, the pair have have their faces shielded, with the family's last two holiday photos simply showing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The couple try to keep their family life private (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)

According to one family friend, there's a reason why the couple aren't keen on showing their faces.

"I think every parent wants to share their kid with the world, but they just can’t," they told US Weekly.

"William’s kids, for example, have way more safety, even though they’re recognizable. And the same doesn’t apply to Meghan and Harry’s children. They know the world wants to see [them, but] I would expect them to live smaller lives until that gets sorted, if it ever does."

Meanwhile, Meghan herself has spoken about protecting their children's privacy.

"Our kids are young. They're three and five. They're amazing," she told CBS.

"But all you want to do as parents is protect them. And so, as we can see what's happening in the online space, we know that there's a lot of work to be done there, and we're just happy to be able to be a part of change for good."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Christmas card didn't show their children's faces (Archewell Foundation)

We recently told you how one of Meghan and Harry's friends shared a sweet detail about the couple's daughter, Lilibet.

Defending Meghan's upcoming Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, chef Adrian Lipscombe criticised publication Eater, after it shared a post titled 'I'm already bored by Meghan Markle's new Netflix cooking series'.

Adrian wrote: "How are you going to criticize someone or judge a TV show before it has even aired? @eater, there was a time we looked to you for thoughtful reporting, a pulse on food trends, and some real insight into the food world. But now? This feels like a step down.

"I’ve had the pleasure of meeting @meghan over food, and let me tell you, she and her well-known significant other are some of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met.

"We talked about our families (mostly about our daughters being in their princess phase and the movies they love) and, of course, about food. She didn’t rush the conversation, even though I was taking up her time. She was gracious, engaged, and kind."