Meghan Markle explains why she shares Archie and Lilibet photos after backlash

Meghan Markle has defended her decision to share images of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet online after facing criticism over her stance on children's safety on social media.

The Duchess of Sussex has regularly posted family photographs since returning to Instagram in 2025, though she typically obscures her children's faces in an effort to protect their privacy.

The issue has come back into focus ahead of Princess Lilibet's fifth birthday on 4 June, with Meghan's team rejecting suggestions that her social media activity contradicts her public campaigning on online harms.

Why has Meghan Markle faced criticism?

Questions were raised after Meghan delivered a speech to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, in which she spoke about the dangers social media can pose to young people.

Some critics argued that posting photographs of Archie and Lilibet online appeared inconsistent with those concerns.

The debate intensified after Meghan shared a photograph of Archie as a baby sleeping on Prince Harry's chest to mark his seventh birthday in May.

She later posted images from a family trip to Disneyland, including a photograph showing Lilibet embracing a performer dressed as Elsa from Disney's Frozen.

What has Meghan Markle's spokesperson said?

Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson for the Duchess told Newsweek that there was a clear difference between sharing family moments and exposing children to unwanted public attention.

The spokesperson said: "The Duchess has always been clear that there is a distinction between sharing moments from her life and exposing her children to public scrutiny.

"By obscuring their faces, she is demonstrating the very principle she advocates for: giving children privacy, agency, and protection in an increasingly digital world."

They added: "Far from being contradictory, by concealing their faces she is actually reflecting the message she delivered in Geneva: that parents can choose to share family experiences while still taking deliberate steps to protect identities, privacy, and digital footprint."

Will Meghan post for Princess Lilibet's birthday?

Attention is now turning to whether Meghan will share a public tribute when Lilibet celebrates her fifth birthday.

The Duchess has frequently used social media to mark family milestones since relaunching her Instagram presence last year.

However, any new birthday post is likely to attract renewed debate because of the comments she made in Geneva and the scrutiny surrounding her children's online presence.

People magazine previously reported that the Disneyland trip featured on Meghan's Instagram was intended to celebrate both Archie and Lilibet's birthdays, which fall less than a month apart.

That has fuelled speculation over whether Meghan may decide not to publish additional photographs for Lilibet's birthday.

Whatever approach she takes, the Duchess appears unlikely to change course following the criticism.