It’s no secret why we rarely get a glimpse of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet — the Sussexes have both made it clear that they’d prefer to protect their kids’ privacy. Even so, since Meghan Markle began her return to the spotlight, both children have been photographed on the odd occasion (albeit in a careful, no-faces way). It’s pretty evident the Duchess of Sussex is fine with that … but there’s a chance her husband might not love it. 

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Speaking exclusively to Nicki Swift, neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez, director of Comprehend the Mind, explained that Prince Harry may be more sensitive to their children’s visibility than his wife is, simply because while Meghan has spent a number of years in the spotlight, he’s the only one to have done so as a child. “When someone spends their childhood in the public eye, they often feel like they never truly had control over their image. As adults, this can make them very protective when it comes to their children, wanting to shield them from similar experiences,” said Hafeez. The neuropsychologist added that there is often a desire to “correct” their own experience — and given how much Harry has spoken about wanting to ensure his kids don’t experience what he did, we’d say that’s on the mark. 

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Speaking on Hello’s “A Right Royal Podcast,” The Sun royal editor Matt Wilkinson also mused that Harry may prefer the idea of laying low. “My understanding … is that Harry would much rather his children were not seen,” he said. Wilkinson added that, in a way, it does make sense for Markle to use pictures of the kids to promote her lifestyle brand, but he still feels as though the prince might not love it. “I think Harry probably is not overly happy,” he guessed. 

One of the biggest signs that Prince Harry would prefer his kids not be photographed is the fact that every time they are, it’s from angles where their faces can’t be seen (or even, in one case, with their faces artfully covered). However, far from being a marker of trouble in paradise, that might actually show that he and Meghan Markle have already found middle ground. 

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Speaking exclusively to Nicki Swift, Dr. Sanam Hafeez explained that when one parent is more concerned about privacy than the other, dialogue is important. “A good next step is setting clear boundaries together, like agreeing on whether to post at all, or deciding if faces will be shown,” she told us. In Harry and Markle’s case, it certainly seems as though they’ve done just that. Granted, it’s worth noting that even setting those boundaries isn’t a one-and-done. “Feelings about privacy can change over time,” Hafeez noted, adding that the trick is to keep checking in with one another. That, Hafeez pointed out, will allow both the duke and duchess “to feel respected and confident in the decision they make together.” 

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All signs seem to point to Harry and Meghan being fine with their current arrangement, which has allowed fans to see Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s matching red hair. Time will tell if that changes and the couple opts not to show them at all, or even if both of them agree that showing their full faces is fine. The latter seems unlikely, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to their parents’ prerogative.