Happy birthday, Archie! Son of Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan turns 2

Happy birthday, Archie!

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Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the son of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is celebrating his second birthday Thursday.

To mark the occasion, members of the British royal family took to social media to share well-wishes for the youngster.

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“Wishing Archie Mountbatten-Windsor a very happy 2nd birthday today,” read a tweet from Queen Elizabeth II’s official account. The post also included a photo of Harry and Meghan holding Archie when he was a newborn.

Prince Charles and wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, echoed the sentiment in their own tweet, as did Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

The occasion comes one day after Random House Children’s Books announced the upcoming release of “The Bench,” a children’s book written by Meghan, 39, and illustrated by Christian Robinson.

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In a news release, Random House said the book, which hits shelves on June 8, is “about the special bond between father and son – as seen through a mother’s eyes.” The story began as a poem that Meghan wrote for Harry on Father’s Day 2019, shortly after they welcomed Archie, the duchess said in a statement.

The couple is expecting their second child, a baby girl, this year.

Two months ago, the former Meghan Markle and Harry, 36, opened up about the difficulties of royal life in a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey. In the two-hour special, the pair discussed their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family and move to California with Archie last year. They also spoke about racism, feeling “trapped,” the British tabloids and the mental health challenges – including suicidal thoughts – that Meghan faced as a result.

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Photos: Meghan Markle, Prince Harry open up about royal rift in interview with Oprah Winfrey This image provided by Harpo Productions shows Prince Harry, from left, and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, in conversation with Oprah Winfrey. (Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions via AP)

Following the interview, Buckingham Palace officials released a statement on the queen’s behalf, saying the royal family was “saddened” by the revelations.

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“The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning,” the statement read. “While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”

The statement added: “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”

Cox Media Group