Meghan Markle’s decision to share a photograph of her daughter Lilibet’s face on social media is ‘hypocritical and goes against Prince Harry’s desire for privacy’, according to royal author Ingrid Seward

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The couple have very different experiences when it comes to privacy(Image: GC Images)

Prince Harry will remember – because it was obviously a very traumatic moment in his life – that one of the things that he pointed out to his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, at the time of him leaving the royal family was that they wanted a private life, where they could bring up a family without being followed by photographers everywhere.

So this is incredibly hypocritical because a photograph like Meghan’s isn’t private. It may be a bit harsh, but one could argue that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have become an extension of their own vanity. Because what other reason is there for Meghan to post a photograph of her children other than to say “look at our lovely children”?

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Some publications have chosen to pixelate Lilibet’s face(Image: meghan/Instagram )

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The couple were seen out in public together last week for the first time in weeks, at an NBA All-Star game(Image: NBAE via Getty Images)

It’s quite different sharing a photograph of your child with your friends and loved ones, but sharing it with millions of people is another matter entirely. Many parents choose not to share photos of their children in this day and age. It’s sad but it’s true, it could be a rather stupid thing to do because it’s out there for everyone to see now.

It is somewhat baffling that Harry allowed it to happen. He has made a point of describing how much he hated the cameras, which apparently he really did, and then there is a photograph of his daughter on Instagram for the whole world to see, which appears to be absolutely contrary to what Harry has said he wanted.

So I would think they have some pretty fiery rows about the topic. They are obviously devoted to their children though, in fact their lives may revolve around them.

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But Harry understands the privacy issue better than Meghan does due to his own experiences as a child. For Meghan, being seen with a gorgeous child is just a plus, because she has had very different experiences.

She appears to love the Hollywood life, and the fame that goes with it. But Harry doesn’t and never has done, by his own admission. He’s not a movie star, he’s a private person – at least when he wants to be, and Meghan’s behaviour is very much that of a movie star.

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The couple have previously chosen to conceal their children’s faces

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Meghan is comfortable on a red carpet(Image: Getty Images)

Movie stars are always showing themselves off with their children but you don’t expect it from a Prince of the Realm. So it is obviously Meghan who wins on this.

I would have thought Harry might have been brave enough to point out that the photograph was absolutely contrary to everything they said they wanted, and it cannot be undone now. I think Meghan probably gets the final word in everything they discuss though.

I often compare it to the behaviour of George and Amal Clooney, who actually said similar things with regards to their desire for their children to remain private, despite their own fame. And they have never, ever put out photographs of them or even generally referred to their children. So we know having a private life, even for children of famous parents, is very possible.

Meghan and Harry said they wanted a more private life, and they have created anything but that for themselves. It appears they left the family because they wanted a public life and to earn money.

It’s just all a bit embarrassing really, and to Harry’s English mind, it’s probably rather boastful and ill-mannered to display yourself in a ‘look at me way’.