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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are tipped to face a challenging situation as Prince Archie becomes "more aware" of what's happening around him, an expert has claimed. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been raising their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, away from the spotlight, in Montecito, California.

At the same time, they've been embroiled in an ongoing feud with the Royal Family since stepping down as senior working royals six years ago. Now that Archie celebrated his seventh birthday this week, an expert has weighed in on how much the young royal will begin to realise his background and standing in the world as he gets older.

Ilona Andrews, certified sleep consultant and founder of Sleeping Stars, a UK-based, family-owned baby clothing brand specialising in sleepwear, said Archie will be able to work through "more complex thoughts and emotions" and he enters his middle childhood.

She told the Daily Express: "Around age seven, many children become more aware of what's happening around them and start working through more complex thoughts and emotions.

"That can show up at bedtime as difficulty winding down, increased worries, or more disrupted sleep."

Ms Andrews added: "In situations like this, consistency matters even more.

"Regular sleep and wake times, familiar bedtime routines, and a calm, predictable evening environment help the brain register safety - an essential ingredient for good-quality sleep."

Archie hasn't seen the Royal Family in person in four years, despite being born in the UK in May 2019.

The last time the Sussex children visited the UK was in the summer of 2022, for the late Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Harry and Meghan came together one last time in September for Elizabeth's funeral.