Meghan Markle has long been associated with a relaxed, barefoot approach to life outdoors — and it seems Prince Archie may be following in his mother’s footsteps.
On Thursday, the Montecito-based Duchess, 44, offered her 4.7 million Instagram followers a glimpse inside a family getaway with Prince Harry, 41, and their children, seven-year-old Archie and Princess Lilibet, five. The photos showed the family spending time in Portugal as well as at Althorp, Princess Diana’s ancestral home in Northamptonshire.
Among the images in the carousel was a candid shot that appeared to show Archie walking barefoot through the Northamptonshire countryside.
The picture quickly drew reaction from royal watchers. Some fans remarked that the young prince appeared to be “barefoot like his parents love to be,” while others said they found it “concerning” to see him walking over gravel without shoes to shield his feet.
Meghan has often shared glimpses of her children embracing the outdoors without footwear. In an Instagram video posted over Easter, Lilibet, then four, was seen dashing around the family’s Los Angeles garden barefoot as she joined Archie for an Easter egg hunt.
The young princess’s shoeless moments have not been limited to the family home. She has previously been seen taking off her shoes during a birthday visit to Disneyland and while enjoying a trip to a pumpkin patch.
The Sussex children’s easygoing, outdoorsy look is a noticeable contrast to the more polished style typically associated with their royal cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are generally photographed in smarter, more formal outfits.
For Meghan, however, the barefoot habit appears to be part of a broader laid-back lifestyle. The Duchess has repeatedly posted images of herself walking through her gardens without shoes on her social media account.
The Duchess of Sussex is known for her love of being barefoot outdoors – and now Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet appear to be as equally fond
Prince Archie strolled the countryside without any shoes on in Meghan’s latest post
Meghan’s love of going barefoot in her home or a garden is well-documented, with the mother-of-two often preferring to go shoeless in her As Ever promo shots despite her enviable collection of stilettos.
Her daughter also prefers to avoid footwear, with all-pink outfits and no slippers or shoes becoming a go-to outfit for the youngster in the photos and videos shared by her mother online.
Meghan previously revealed why she always goes barefoot to greet guests at her Montecito mansion during a book event in California, adding the act ‘demystifies’ her to people.
Elsewhere in yesterday’s post, Lilibet is seen walking through the Northamptonshire estate’s famous avenue of trees, close to the private island where Diana is buried.
Harry, Archie and Lilibet, all carrying large bouquets of flowers to lay at Princess Diana’s grave and the nearby memorial, walked ahead.
Sources have confirmed to the Daily Mail that Meghan’s pictures were taken at Althorp.
People, widely considered the Sussexes’ preferred publication in the US, reports: ‘The trip gave Archie and Lilibet the opportunity to spend time at a place so closely tied to their late grandmother, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 when Harry was 12.’
The Instagram set named ‘Summer Holidays’ also confirmed that Meghan and Harry spent time in Portugal before Harry’s chaotic trip to Britain, with images of them on pristine beaches, frolicking in a pool and a trip to a rustic local fish restaurant.
Lilibet forwent shoes while completing an Easter egg hunt with her brother Archie earlier this year
She also shared a landscape that appears to be Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands, suggesting they may have visited Scotland.
There were no photos of their reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove a fortnight ago, however.
Meghan delayed her arrival and entered the country secretly with Archie and Lilibet amid ongoing security concerns.
The family had been visiting Europe in recent weeks ahead of Prince Harry’s return to the UK this month to attend the Invictus Games in Birmingham, where he had intended to bring Meghan and their two children with him for the entirety of the five-day trip.
Following their trip, Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet enjoyed a private cup of tea with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove.
The visit – which would have been the first time Charles had seen his daughter-in-law and grandchildren since 2022 – was confirmed by Buckingham Palace after the family had left.
Harry and his family are believed to have met the King and Queen for more than an hour.
Highgrove, the King’s private Gloucestershire estate, is where Harry spent much of his childhood, complete with the treehouse and swimming pool he knew as a boy.
The visit to Highgrove came after a chaotic back-and-forth about where Prince Harry would stay during his trip.
The King is said to have lost patience when Harry dithered over an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace at the start of his trip.
The Duke initially rejected the accommodation before changing his mind and attempting to accept after the deadline had passed.
Harry’s spokesman subsequently briefed the BBC that he would be staying at the Palace, only for the King’s aides to indicate he had left it too late.
