How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are Celebrating Son Prince Archie's 5th Birthday

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have big travel plans this week, but first, they have a birthday boy to celebrate

Harry & Meghan Netflix Documentary
From left: Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, Doria Ragland and Prince Harry as seen in Netflix's 'Harry & Meghan'. Photo: Netflix

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have a 5-year-old son!

Prince Archie turned 5 on May 6, and PEOPLE understands the family is celebrating his birthday privately before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's upcoming travel plans. Prince Harry, 39, is heading to the U.K. this week for the celebrations surrounding the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, and Meghan, 42, is set to reunite with her husband later in the week for a visit to Nigeria also spotlighting the sporting competition for veterans and service personnel.

Archie's fifth birthday coincides with the first anniversary of his grandfather King Charles' coronation. Prince Harry attended his father's crowning ceremony last year, heading to the airport shortly after the event to fly back to California for his son's birthday festivities. Meghan missed the coronation, staying in the U.S., where they moved in 2020 after stepping back as working members of the royal family, with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, now 2.

A source told PEOPLE ahead of Archie's fourth birthday that a "low-key" party was planned at the family's home.

"They'll have friends around them and Meghan's mom, Doria [Ragland]. Meghan will definitely have support that weekend," the source said.

Little sister Lilibet was also set to be part of the festivities. "They are so sweet together. Archie loves Lili. He's such a sweet boy. When she's not around, he asks, 'Where's Lili?' " the source added.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry introduce son Archie on May 8, 2019.

Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty

After being born in the U.K., Archie celebrated his first birthday in the U.S. in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To celebrate the milestone, his parents shared a sweet video of their son reading the picture book Duck! Rabbit! on Meghan's lap. The clip was shared in partnership with Save the Children's #SaveWithStories campaign, launched to help kids adversely impacted by the pandemic.

"They are celebrating as a family focused on Archie and being together," a source told PEOPLE at the time. "They'll have a smash cake and Zooms with family and friends. It's been beautiful weather, so perhaps a family stroll with the dogs."

Fans also got a glimpse of the festivities in the 2022 Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, which showed Meghan's mother Doria Ragland in attendance and Archie wearing a yellow party hat.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation during their royal tour of South Africa on September 25, 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's son, Archie, in Sept. 2019. Samir Hussein/WireImage

For Archie's second birthday in 2021, Meghan and Harry shared a new photo of him holding balloons on the website of the Archewell Foundation. The couple asked for donations to COVID-19 vaccine equity for vulnerable families around the world.

"We cannot think of a more resonant way to honor our son's birthday," the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a message. "If we all show up, with compassion for those we both know and don't know, we can have a profound impact. Even a small contribution can have a ripple effect. Together, we can uplift, protect and care for one another."

While Prince Harry and Meghan didn't share any new updates for Archie's third birthday, he received well wishes on social media from the royal family.

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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Invictus Games One Year To Go Event on February 14, 2024 in Whistler, Canada.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Canada on Feb. 14, 2024.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Prince Harry gave a brief update on his children during a visit to Canada earlier this year, where he and Meghan checked out the Invictus Games' Winter Training Camp ahead of the 2025 event in Whistler and Vancouver.

When asked what he's like as a dad in an interview for Good Morning America, the Duke of Sussex replied, "I can't tell you. That's classified. It's top secret!"

"No, the kids are doing great," Harry added. "The kids are growing up like all kids do, very, very fast. They've both got an incredible sense of humor and make us laugh and keep us grounded every single day, like most kids do. I'm just grateful to be a dad."

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