On March 8th, Meghan Markle took to social media to share what appeared to be a heartfelt collection of photographs in honor of International Women's Day.
Among the images was one that allegedly featured Prince Harry and their daughter, Lilibet, on a boat. However, a glaring issue quickly caught public attention—the child in the picture was not wearing a life jacket. This detail is significant because California state law requires all children under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket while on a moving vessel, with no exceptions. This oversight raises serious questions about their parental responsibility. Was this a case of sheer negligence, or does it lend further weight to the ongoing speculation that these children may not be real? Some online critics even suggested that this could be another instance of artificial intelligence-generated imagery, one that failed to account for a fundamental safety regulation.
This isn’t the first time Meghan and Harry have faced scrutiny over questionable photographs involving their children. When Archie was born, the absence of traditional royal birth announcements and inconsistencies regarding the hospital details led to widespread skepticism. Harry’s first interview as a father felt awkward and overly rehearsed, adding to the doubts. Then came their infamous Christmas card, in which Archie's face appeared heavily filtered, as if digitally manipulated beyond recognition. Now, this boat photograph has only added fuel to the ongoing debate. A child on a boat without a life jacket is not just irresponsible—it’s illegal. This leaves the public questioning whether Meghan and Harry truly failed to ensure their child's safety or if an AI-generated image simply omitted the life vest.
Social media quickly erupted with criticism. One user on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out that even responsible pet owners ensure their dogs wear life jackets on boats, questioning why any parent would ignore such a fundamental safety measure. Another commenter emphasized that Lilibet should have absolutely been wearing a life vest, calling the situation reckless. The backlash further intensified the ongoing concerns about Meghan and Harry’s parenting choices and the overall inconsistencies surrounding their children.
The Sussexes have long been criticized for their contradictory approach to privacy. Despite claiming they want to shield their children from public scrutiny, they frequently use them for publicity—yet offer little verifiable proof of their existence in public settings. In stark contrast, Prince William and Princess Catherine carefully balance their children's privacy while maintaining a sense of authenticity. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis appear at appropriate public events, always adhering to safety protocols and dressed appropriately. The same cannot be said for the Sussex children, who are rarely seen in candid, unedited photographs. Adding to the mystery, there remains no publicly available, authentic image of Lilibet with King Charles, her supposed grandfather. If these children were indeed part of the royal family, wouldn’t there be at least one genuine, unaltered image of them with their relatives? Wouldn’t they be spotted at school events or in casual family moments, as is the case with nearly every other high-profile family?
This controversy ultimately raises a larger question—are these children real? There are several possibilities to consider. The Sussexes may simply be careless parents who failed to follow a basic safety law and inadvertently broadcasted their mistake to millions. Alternatively, they could be deliberately manipulating images for PR purposes, leading to bizarre inconsistencies. The most extreme theory suggests that the children do not exist in the way they have been presented to the public. Each of these possibilities presents serious ethical concerns. If Meghan and Harry truly prioritized their children’s safety, wouldn’t they have ensured that even the smallest details, such as a life jacket, were accounted for? And if they are resorting to AI-generated imagery, what does that imply about their credibility as a couple?
Meanwhile, King Charles, Prince William, and Princess Catherine continue to carry out their royal duties with dignity despite ongoing challenges. Even as Catherine faces personal health struggles, she remains a dedicated mother, ensuring her children are raised with a sense of responsibility while maintaining an appropriate connection to the public. The contrast between the working royals and the Sussexes could not be more apparent.
