The brother and sister held hands on the beach in a photo Meghan posted to celebrate Archie’s birthday

Archie and Lili

Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie in a photo Meghan Markle shared to Instagram on May 6, 2026.Credit : Meghan Markle/Instagram

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s close bond showed in Meghan Markle’s latest Instagram post.

Meghan and Prince Harry’s son Prince Archie turned 7 on May 6 and the Duchess of Sussex, 44, posted a photo tribute to mark the milestone, including a tender picture of Archie with his sister.

“7 years later…happy birthday to our sweet boy 🤍,” Meghan captioned the snaps on Instagram.

The first photo showed an infant Archie snuggled up on his dad Harry’s chest, and the second, more recent shot showed Archie and Lilibet holding hands.

The snap captured the brother and sister from behind as they walked barefoot on the beach together before the mountains in the background, and Prince Archie carried a big stick.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children held hands in a sign of their tight sibling bond, and the vantage point also showed the red hair that both children inherited from their dad, Prince Harry.

Meghan has shared a few carefully chosen glimpses of Archie and Lilibet together over the years — from Easter egg hunts to decorating cookies side by side and spending time in the family’s garden.

As Archie rang in his birthday, a close source tells PEOPLE that Harry, 41, and Meghan are deliberate about giving their children the room to grow into their own identities.

Archie and Lili

Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie in a photo Meghan Markle shared to Instagram on May 6, 2026.Meghan Markle/Instagram

“They give their kids space to be themselves — for their different personalities to flourish,” the source says. “After growing up so publicly, that was really important to Harry.”

The Duke of Sussex’s upbringing looked different than his children’s, as he grew up in the royal spotlight as the younger son of the future King Charles and Princess Diana, a position that he’s said has shaped his perspective as a parent today.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet

Prince Harry, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet and Meghan Markle in the Sussex family’s 2025 holiday card.Meghan Markle/Instagram

Prince Harry and Meghan moved to her home state of California after stepping back from their royal roles in the U.K. in 2020 and insiders opened up about their private world in a recent PEOPLE cover story.

“They love their home and their com­munity,” a source says of the Sussexes’ life in Montecito. “The kids are really thriving.”

“They’re trying to live their life, raise their children, do meaningful work and earn a living,” adds another source about Harry and Meghan’s outlook now.