Harry and Meghan Used a Clever Trick to Hide Archie and Lilibet’s Faces at Disneyland
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Disneyland, California, last week with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex whisked their little ones to the Magic Kingdom to celebrate Lilibet’s fourth birthday. Known for protecting their children’s privacy, the couple used a clever trick to hide their kids' faces. Archie and Lilibet wore oversized Mickey Mouse hats and glasses to conceal their identities in public.
Markle posted a video collage of the family’s fun trip to Disneyland on her Instagram, captioning it, “Thank you @disneyland for giving our family two days of pure joy!” In the clip, Archie and Lilibet were seen meeting Elsa and the cast from Frozen. As reported by Hello! magazine, the couple also made sure their kids stayed hidden in shared footage by covering their faces with heart emojis. Archie and Lilibet kept their glasses on as they interacted with the Disney characters. Markle and Harry were also seen wearing Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse ears on several rides.
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A source revealed that the family likely enjoyed a special package, which allowed them to be driven through backstage areas, away from the crowds. They were also granted access to cast member entrances, letting them skip the regular queues. Markle’s video showed the family riding the Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Star Cruiser, and Cars-themed Radiator Springs Racers. They were also seen watching a Star Wars stage show with Archie. Another image from their adventurous trip showed Lilibet's two-tier birthday cake, decorated with an Ariel theme from The Little Mermaid. Later footage showed the young Princess riding Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
The Sussexes have been known to be protective of their children’s privacy. Markle’s posts on Instagram regularly feature her children photographed from the back or with emojis covering their faces. Speaking on their stance for privacy, a close friend of the Sussexes told People magazine, “He [Harry] wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm. Harry is determined to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.” His friend's claims were also echoed by royal expert Jennie Bond, who told The Mirror, “They are clearly fiercely protective of their children. And I think much of that stems from Harry's experience of having cameras trained on him when he was a little boy.”
Harry has been outspoken about the need for privacy, given his experiences with the paparazzi. From a young age, he and Prince William were often hounded by photographers while vacationing with their late mother, Princess Diana. During a sit-down at the New York Times 2024 DealBook Summit, the Duke said, “I very much enjoy living here and bringing up my kids here (California),” before explaining that his kids have the freedom to do things that they “undoubtedly wouldn't be able to do in the UK.”