A family video shared by Meghan Markle has prompted a fresh online debate after the Duchess posted footage of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet enjoying a day at a Montecito pumpkin patch. The short clip, uploaded to Meghan’s Instagram, shows the couple and their two children exploring the seasonal displays; Archie, seven, runs through a cornfield and Lilibet, four, rides in a wagon piled with pumpkins. As with previous posts, the children’s faces are not clearly shown, consistent with the couple’s stated approach to sharing family moments.
The footage drew mixed reactions. Some commentators accused Meghan of exploiting her children for attention, with one critic writing that the duchess “really doesn’t give a d*** about her children” and alleging she “gets off on hanging their toes over the balcony.” Others questioned practical details in the clip, pointing to what they described as a mismatch in clothing between parents and children. One viewer noted the warm daytime temperature in Montecito and asked why the parents appeared bundled up while the children wore lighter outfits.
Supporters defend controlled sharing
Supporters pushed back quickly in the comments, arguing there is a difference between images the couple share deliberately and intrusive paparazzi photography that the Sussexes have long criticised. Defenders pointed out that the video shows Archie wearing a jacket at the start and that Lilibet is seen in long sleeves at points, dismissing claims that the children were inappropriately dressed. Another commenter framed the controversy as unfair singling out of the Sussexes, arguing that it would be unreasonable to object to similar family photos of other celebrities.
Meghan has previously explained her approach to parenting in the digital age. At a recent Project Healthy Minds Gala in New York, she said that Archie and Lilibet are “still too young for social media,” but that like many parents she tries to balance technology’s benefits with protecting her children from its dangers. The Montecito clip follows an earlier October post of photos of Lilibet that also drew mixed reaction.
The couple’s life in California
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Since stepping back from senior royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have made Montecito their home and largely built private family life in the United States. Meghan, 44, runs her lifestyle business and stars in the Netflix series With Love, Meghan, while Harry, 40, continues to work on Invictus Games projects and other engagements. The couple have repeatedly said they will control how and when they share images of their children, a policy that continues to draw scrutiny and debate online.
