Life is about to change dramatically for seven-year-old Prince Archie and his five-year-old sister Lilibet as they prepare to move thousands of miles away from their Montecito home and start at a new British school from September. It's a lot to process for such young children and Archie might be particularly sorry to leave a part of US life behind.
According to The Telegraph, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to bring the family's dogs, Mia and Pula, to the UK with them this month. However, the chickens will be staying behind and will reportedly be looked after by their household staff. Collecting eggs is something they used to do as a family and the coop is even named Archie's Chick Inn.
During her appearance on Ellen DeGeneres' former talk show in 2021, Meghan shared a picture of a then-two-year-old Archie standing in the "inn" wearing wellies and holding a basket. He's clearly been very involved with egg collecting from the beginning and as the oldest child, he's had longer to form a bond with the birds too.
Ellen, who owns a neighbouring home, said the Prince is "so sweet with the chickens" and is a "gentle soul". We saw more of the flock in Meghan's With Love, Meghan Netflix show, where the Duchess said egg collecting was a lovely way to start the day that made you "think about your day differently".
Although it makes sense that Prince Harry and Meghan wouldn't want to transport their birds across the Atlantic ocean, poor Archie could be feeling rather sad that they're not coming too. He'll have to wait until they're next in the US to see the Archie's Chick Inn residents again, but he's not the only royal with a hilariously-named coop.
King Charles is also a proud hen-owner and keeps over 100 of them at Highgrove House.These chickens get to roost in Cluckingham Palace and roam under the fruit trees, with species including Burford Browns and Welsummers.
Egg collecting is a bit more labour-intensive here than at Archie's family coop, though. The Highgrove website states that around 4,000 eggs are collected each year.
His Majesty is said to welcome the opportunity to spend more time with the Sussex family when they move, so perhaps Archie can help out with his trusty basket if he visits. In the meantime at least he and Lilibet will have their family dogs with them as they start their new lives in Britain.
Prince Archie was born in the UK, but he's only been back twice since the Duke and Duchess stepped back as working royals in 2020 and it'll take him time to adjust to moving. Even though he likely can't remember much from his time living here before, it's important to Prince Harry for his children to love and understand their British heritage.
"The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US. That cannot happen if it's not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil," he said in a statement to the High Court in 2023.
