Prince Harry and his wife under fire for not paying attention to their son at the beach

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were spotted enjoying a relaxed day at Santa Claus Beach in Carpinteria, California, on August 1, 2025. Their son, Prince Archie, now 6 years old, stole the spotlight as he took surfing lessons during the family outing.

While Archie braved the waves, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex watched from the sand. Harry kept it casual in a gray T-shirt, black shorts, and a tan baseball cap, while Meghan wore a white rolled-sleeve shirt, shorts, and a wide-brimmed sun hat to shield herself from the sun. Their daughter, Princess Lilibet, was not seen at the beach.

Reactions to their parenting choices

Not all comments were positive, however. Some criticized the couple, suggesting they were not keeping a close enough eye on their son during his surfing lessons. “Your 6-year-old is on the sea and you don’t watch them closely? Don’t you worry about it?” one person questioned.

Despite the mixed opinions, most online reactions leaned toward admiration for the couple’s efforts to give Archie an active and adventurous childhood.

Privacy concerns remain a talking point

While the beach day showed a united front, reports suggest the couple may have differing views about their children’s exposure to the public. On a recent episode of HELLO!’s “A Right Royal” podcast, The Sun’s royal editor Matt Wilkinson said Prince Harry is believed to be less comfortable than Meghan when it comes to sharing glimpses of their children on social media and public platforms.

Although the Sussexes typically avoid showing their children’s faces, Archie and Lilibet have appeared more frequently in curated photos and controlled appearances. According to Wilkinson, Harry would prefer to limit their visibility, while Meghan appears more open to including them in certain aspects of her media work.

For now, the California family continues to draw attention both for their parenting style and their approach to privacy, proving that every public outing remains under the spotlight.