Coronavirus Fears May Have Inspired Meghan & Harry to Leave Archie at Home

Last week seems like a year ago in terms of news, especially when it comes to the spread of the coronavirus and the world’s reaction to it. When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry began their last round of royal engagements last Thursday, were they already thinking about the effects of the pandemic on them? Is that why they left 10-month-old Archie back in Canada?

The Telegraph reported earlier this week that during her meeting with Commonwealth scholarship recipients at Buckingham Palace on Monday, Meghan spoke about the virus.

“There were conversations about cancer care in Rwanda, climate research projects in India, and yes, how to prevent the spread of coronavirus throughout the globe,” the Telegraph’s Bryony Gordon wrote. “The decision to leave Archie behind in Canada came not out of petty spite, as reported in some areas, but out of concern for his health during the threat of a global pandemic.”

That’s not a direct quote from Meghan herself, but E! News sees this as confirmation that they had kept Archie away because of COVID-19 fears.

Counterpoint: They had a packed schedule, with events they wanted to give their complete focus, and that’s basically impossible with a 10-month-old around.

But an unnamed source also gave credence to this coronavirus theory, telling People that Meghan and Harry have been, “FaceTiming with him every day.”

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50 years ago, women in Britain won the right to equal pay. That monumental moment began with one courageous and inspiring group of women in a factory in Dagenham, England. In 1968, facing a pay settlement that declared them less skilled than men, the sewing machinists of the Ford Motor Company walked out on strike. In the face of great pressure, they stood firm, and two years later the UK Parliament was forced to pass the Equal Pay Act, protecting and supporting working women ever since. To mark International Women’s Day, The Duchess of Sussex visited Dagenham to meet with Geraldine Dear, one of the strikers, and spend time with students at the Robert Clack Upper School to meet the town’s next generation of female role models, and talk to young women and men about the women who inspire them. • “Being in Dagenham is incredibly profound. Because as you can see with Geraldine and the other women who had the strength to really stand up for something that they knew needed to be done. This is the best example of no matter how small you might feel, how low you may feel on the ladder or the totem pole, no matter what colour you are, no matter what gender you are, you have a voice, and you certainly have the right to speak up for what is right.” – The Duchess of Sussex A lifetime advocate and campaigner for gender equity, The Duchess joined a special assembly to celebrate this remarkable local story, as well as recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of all women around the world. #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2020 #EachForEqual Photo © The Duke and Duchess of Sussex / Chris Allerton

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This is interesting, especially given the evidence that children with the virus don’t experience severe symptoms. If anything, their fears might be about Archie getting it and then passing it on to Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland, or to his caregivers. Still, as so many of us keep our kids home from school this week, we can understand not wanting to bring a baby on a trip across the world.

What we’re really wondering now is whether that means Harry and Meghan took any measures to quarantine themselves upon their return to Canada. There sure was a lot of hand-shaking and hugging going — which, that’s why we love them, right?

Over the course of their trip, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom jumped from 115 on March 5 to 373 on March 9. As of Friday morning, that number has gone up to 609. Harry’s father and stepmother, Prince Charles and Camilla, also just announced that they will be postponing their travel plans.

In short, even if there were no Megxit, this is a good time for Harry and Meghan to hunker down in gorgeous Vancouver Island, spending time with Archie and far from any kind of crowd.

Keeping your kids away from crowds? Here’s how to entertain and educate them when school is out.

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