PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle can’t claim they want privacy for Archie then use his picture on the Archewell website, a royal expert has said.
Angela Levin accused the couple of using Archie for “commercial gain” – despite pledging to keep their son out of the public eye.
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It comes after Harry and Meg shared a new picture of Archie holding balloons to mark his 2nd birthday on their Archewell website.
On his special day, they also urged well-wishers to donate towards GAVI, a charity which aids the distribution of coronavirus vaccines across the world.
And they released a joint statement on their Archewell foundation website, saying they are "incredibly grateful" to those who have given money to good causes, volunteered or raised donations on behalf of their son.
Asked about the decision, Angela Levin told The Sun Online: “There’s a distaste for me to use their little boy Archie for who they were so keen to keep private and out of the public eye that they are using him to earn a lot of money.
“I would have thought that was breaking his own privacy because he will have an image that is not actually his own.”
Ms Levin, a longtime critic of Meghan Markle, also claimed the fact that they chosen to name Archewell after their son meant he would always be attached to the foundation and its causes – even in later life.
She also referenced the couple’s recent decision to buy 200 beanie hats from New Zealand social enterprise Make Give Live in Archie’s name on his birthday.
And last year, the couple shared a snap of their baby Archie wearing a hat made by the label while being held by his father.
Ms Levin continued: “His name is always there and I don’t think that’s really fair on him.
“As he gets older he has already got an image which is chosen by his parents.
“Actually what they said at the beginning was that they could get away from the Royal Family so that he could be free and he could be private.
“They don’t have to use him for commercial gain, just as they shouldn’t use the royal family for commercial gain.
“Even the book was to do with Archie and Harry, I don’t think you should be using him in all these PR exercises or for making lots of money.”
It came as Prince Harry today revealed he had felt "more free" since his move to LA, where he lives with Meghan and Archie.
He told Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast: “Living here now I can actually lift my head and actually I feel different, my shoulders have dropped, so has hers, you can walk around feeling a little bit more free.
“I can take Archie on the back of my bicycle. I never had the chance to do that.”
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