Whatever one thrives to achieve in this life, the royals do it better. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have always lived by a simple but quietly radical idea: life works best when it is lived with intention. From stepping away from royal duties in 2020 to building a new chapter in California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shown that marriage, career, and parenthood do not have to follow inherited scripts.

And now, they are opening up about how that philosophy shapes the way they spend time with their children.

This week, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a virtual appearance to mark the launch of The Amazing Generation, a new book by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and journalist Catherine Price. The event focused on online safety and the psychological impact of screens on young people, a topic the Sussexes clearly feel deeply about. While speaking with the authors, Markle offered a thoughtful reflection on how digital shortcuts cannot replace real human connection, with an example that hits home.

"You cannot replace the feeling of a deep, guttural belly laugh. An emoji laugh is not the same physiological response that we need, that our kids need," Markle explained.

"What I love is that the more we encourage our children to do this, we mimic those same behaviors. We also start to play, and we also start to be more present," she added. 

That perspective fits neatly with how the couple have presented themselves since leaving the UK. Prince Harry has often spoken about wanting to break cycles from his own childhood. Meanwhile, Meghan Markle has emphasized emotional literacy and mindfulness in family life. Together, they have crafted a public narrative that blends mental health advocacy with everyday parenting realities, turning private values into public conversations.

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Following their own guidelines, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have built a life centered on family, where presence and play shape every day.

For Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, being present is not just a philosophy; it is built into the physical and emotional architecture of their Montecito home. Living quietly in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the Sussexes have created a household designed around proximity, play, and emotional availability rather than royal formality.

That reality was laid bare in a rare interview Markle gave to Harper’s Bazaar’s Art Issue in November 2025, where she offered an unusually intimate look inside their daily rhythm.

“My office is right by the kitchen, and I love that I can work from home — it’s a great luxury,” she told the magazine. 

She went on to explain how the home itself allows her to remain physically close to her children even while working. As a hands-on mother, she described how deeply she engages with Prince Archie and Prince Lilibet as they grow.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spent 2025 firmly in the public eye, from Prince Harry’s cautious efforts to repair ties with the Mountbatten-Windsors to the growing success of Markle’s luxury lifestyle brand, As Ever. Yet, it is their family life that continues to generate the most fascination.

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Do you think this kind of mindful, hands-on parenting is the future for high-profile families? Share your thoughts.