Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s two children, Archie and Lilibet, have been the subject of much curiosity and speculation when it comes to their looks and personality. One question that often comes up is whether both children have inherited the famous red hair that runs in the royal family.
Red hair is a recessive genetic trait, meaning both parents need to carry the gene variant for it to be expressed in their children. Harry himself inherited the red locks from his paternal side – his father Prince Charles and grandmother Queen Elizabeth II both had red hair when younger. On his mother Princess Diana’s side, there was no known red hair in recent generations.
Meghan Markle, meanwhile, has dark brown hair. Examining her family tree does not reveal any recent redheaded relatives either. This means the odds of Meghan carrying the recessive red hair gene are lower, although not impossible.
So do Archie and Lilibet have natural red hair like their dad, or do they take after their mother in the hair department? Let’s take a closer look at what is known about each child’s hair color and genetics.
Archie’s Hair
As Harry and Meghan’s firstborn child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor has been in the public eye since his birth on May 6, 2019. However, clear photos and detailed information about Archie have been limited, as his parents closely guard his privacy.
The few baby photos of Archie that have been released do provide some clues about his hair color. As a newborn, Archie appeared to have a light covering of hair on his head. The color looked dark, perhaps brown or black, rather than red.
At Archie’s christening in July 2019, he was pictured at about two months old. His hair again looked dark, straight, and fairly thick for his age. No obvious reddish tones were visible.
By Archie’s first birthday in May 2020, he had a full head of hair. A video posted by his parents shows Archie from the back, with hair color still indistinct but seeming mostly dark brown or black.
The most recent public photo of Archie was released for his 2nd birthday in May 2021. It shows him facing away from the camera, his hair appearing thick and curly, in a light to medium brown shade.
While none of the photos provide a perfect view, they suggest Archie takes more after his mother in the hair department. There is no evidence so far that he has inherited Prince Harry’s red hair. His natural color seems to be dark brown or black.
Probability of Archie Having Red Hair
| Parent | Red Hair Gene |
|---|---|
| Prince Harry | Yes |
| Meghan Markle | Unlikely |
With one redheaded parent but one unlikely to carry the recessive gene, Archie had around a 50% chance of inheriting ginger locks. Based on the limited photographic evidence, he appears to have darker hair instead. However, some children’s hair does lighten or change hue as they grow older, so only time will tell!
Lilibet’s Hair
Harry and Meghan’s daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, was born on June 4, 2021 in California. As she just recently turned one year old, there are very few photos of her available to the public.
Her first birthday portrait showed Lilibet from behind, with hair color difficult to determine. It could be a light reddish or strawberry blonde tone, but the photo does not provide enough detail to be certain.
Like her older brother, Lilibet’s hair color at birth was likely on the darker end. Newborns often have lighter hair initially that then darkens into their natural shade as melanin production increases over the first year of life.
Some babies are born with more obvious red hair, but this is less common. More likely Lilibet was born with hair on the darker end like Archie, which may continue darkening or possibly lighten a bit into a redder hue.
Probability of Lilibet Having Red Hair
| Parent | Red Hair Gene |
|---|---|
| Prince Harry | Yes |
| Meghan Markle | Unlikely |
With the same genetic parents as her brother, Lilibet had around a 50% chance of inheriting the red hair gene variant from her father. But like Archie, she may have ended up with the darker hair tones from her mother’s side.
As Lilibet grows older, her hair color and texture may continue to change. More photographs in the future will likely solve the mystery of whether she shares Prince Harry’s famous red locks!
Conclusion
Based on the limited photographic evidence available, it appears neither Archie nor Lilibet has inherited Prince Harry’s red hair. Both children seem to have darker hair, likely a brown or black shade, taking after their mother Meghan’s coloring.
However, Lilibet is still very young at just one year old. Some babies are born with lighter hair that darkens over the first year, while other children’s hair lightens into a redder tone as they grow. Her hair color may continue to evolve.
Only time will tell if either Archie or Lilibet ends up sporting the famous Weasley-esque ginger hair that runs in the royal family. For now, they appear to take after Meghan with darker locks. But as parents know, babies can be full of surprises as they grow and develop their own unique features!
With Archie now a toddler and Lilibet still an infant, Harry and Meghan are likely enjoying every moment watching their children’s looks and personalities unfold. Whether redheaded or not, Archie and Lilibet are sure to continue melting hearts as the latest generation of royal cuteness.
