Royal but regular: Will Harry and Meghan seek 'normality' for their baby?
Harry is all too familiar with the attention that comes with being a British royal
(REUTERS) - Wearing his army fatigues while on tour in Afghanistan in 2013 thousands of miles from home, Britain s Prince Harry cut a relaxed figure as he told journalists: "I am one of the guys, I don t get treated any differently."
Now with the birth of his first child expected next month, Queen Elizabeth s grandson and his wife Meghan will have to decide how "normal" a life they want the future seventh-in-line to the British crown to have.
Harry is all too familiar with the attention that comes with being a British royal. The disintegration of the marriage of his parents - heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his late first wife Diana - was played out in the public glare and his mother was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997 as the limousine carrying her and her lover Dodi al-Fayed crashed as it fled chasing paparazzi.
In the last two years, Harry has spoken openly of his mental anguish at the loss of his mother when he was just 12 and how in the years that followed he struggled with his royal status.
Diana had been keen that her two sons should be brought up away from the stuffy confines of royal palaces and their traditions. She took them on trips to the cinema, to McDonald s, and to a theme park.
But how realistic is Harry s wish? Polls suggest he is one of the most popular British royals, vying with the 92-year-old queen and his elder brother William for top spot, and his marriage to a glamorous Hollywood actress has only increased the media and public fascination.
Meghan, whose rift with members of her own family has provided great fodder for tabloids, giving her a clear insight into the baggage that being a royal brings, has not made any public statement about the possible upbringing for the baby.
But, speeches made by Harry since the pregnancy was announced have hinted how they do not want their child not be valued on their royal background.
As well as his own upbringing, Harry and Meghan can look to the experiences of other royals. William has fiercely sought to defend the privacy of his children, George, Charlotte and Louis and so far the media have generally abided by requests to leave them alone.
Royal author Robert Jobson said whatever Harry and Meghan s aims, it will be almost impossible for their child to completely escape his or her background.
