Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to take months away from work to look after their new baby daughter, Lilibet, as she settles in at home with the couple and their 2-year-old son, Archie, in Montecito, California.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their second child last Friday. This week, royal journalist Omid Scobie revealed they would be taking leave from their work, including from their own organization, for several months.
Speaking about their decision, Omid Scobie said that the Sussexes’ charitable foundation Archewell offers its employees 20 weeks of parental leave, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are “leading by example.”
Scobie stated: “Prince Harry is also now employed by BetterUp, a US-based mental health app which offers eight weeks of paid leave after the arrival of a new baby; however, it is not clear whether he will be taking this.”
The news was not well met by hard-working royal fans who slammed the powerful couple for taking so much time off.
One person said: “Parental leave from WHAT!? You have to have a job first. Lmao.”
Another chimed in: “Parental leave. ? Again, so disconnected from reality. It’s a slap on the face to working parents everywhere who may not have the privilege to go on parental leave, or if they do, they sacrifice so much as many times they’re not even paid in full for the time off. The only parental leave I hope they take is from their PR machine. Go hide in your mansion with your new baby and let us hear the sweet sound of silence.”
It has also been claimed this week by royal experts that Prince Harry told the Queen he and Meghan Markle might name their daughter after her.
A statement was issued on Sunday by Buckingham Palace, less than two hours after the Sussexes announced the birth of Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, whose first name pays tribute to her great grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Royal editor Russell Myers said it would have been “a nice surprise” for the monarch and was a “tremendous gesture,” which could perhaps have “healing powers” for relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.
However, royal commentator Angela Levin said she did not think it is a good idea and believes the move was “quite rude” to the Queen.
Omid Scobie said that naming their daughter Lilibet shows just “how close [the Sussexes] have always been” to the Queen.
