Happy Birthday, Archie! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Son Turns 2
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's son Archie is celebrating his second birthday on Thursday. And as he rings in his special day with his parents, the toddler is gearing up for a new role: big brother!
In February, the couple excitedly announced they are expecting their second child this summer. "We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child," a spokesperson for the couple told PEOPLE at the time.
In March, they shared the news that Meghan is pregnant with a baby girl. "To have a boy then a girl — what more can you ask for?" Harry said during the couple's sit-down with Oprah Winfrey.
Meghan and Harry shared a new photo of Archie holding a bouquet of birthday balloons on their Archewell Foundations website, along with a request for fans to donate to vaccine equity in honor of Archie's second birthday.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Archie
The royal family also shared birthday wishes for Archie on Thursday. Queen Elizabeth, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall posted photos of Archie and sweet captions to celebrate his 2nd birthday.
The Duke of Sussex/@SaveChildrenUK Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Archie
The growing family has been settling into life in Montecito, California, since their move last summer.
"They are both extremely attentive parents. Harry wants to give Archie the childhood he always wanted," an insider previously told PEOPLE. "They spend a ton of time outside, and both Harry and Meghan love to play—all the private space is a dream for them."
DOMINIC LIPINSKI/AFP via Getty Images Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with son Archie
The family's new home in the Montecito community of Santa Barbara also came with a surprise for Archie."
Archie is really happy, and he has space to run free," a source previously told PEOPLE. "The house came with a play structure that he'll be climbing in no time."
Meghan and Harry shared a glimpse of their family's playtime in a video that aired during their Oprah interview. In the clip, Meghan, Harry and Archie play at the beach with Guy, their rescue beagle. Archie happily runs across the sand over to Harry as the duo shares a sweet hug.
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"To have outdoor space where I can go for walks with Archie and we go for walks as a family and with the dogs. You know, we go on hikes or go down to the beach, which is so close," Harry told Oprah.
CBS Meghan Markle and Archie
"The highlight for me is sticking him on the back of the bicycle in his little baby seat and taking him on bike rides is something which I never was able to do when I was young. I can see him on the back, and he's got his arms out, chatting: 'Palm tree?' House?' " Harry added, sharing Archie's new vocabulary.
Meghan shared her son's latest favorite word. "He's on a roll. In the past few weeks it's been 'hydrate,' " the Duchess of Sussex said.
"Whenever anyone leaves the house, he's like, 'Drive safe!' " Harry shared as Meghan said, "He's not even 2 yet!"
Meghan recently announced that she's written her first children's book inspired by her husband and son's relationship.
"The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father's Day, the month after Archie was born," Meghan said in the press release from publisher Random House Children's Books. "That poem became this story."
