How are Harry's kids redheads?

Why Harry and Meghan’s Baby Might Have Red Hair

When news broke that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s newborn son has red hair, it sparked curiosity—and a fair share of online chatter. After all, neither Harry nor Meghan is a natural redhead. So how did their baby end up with a copper crown? The answer lies in the fascinating world of genetics.

While Harry’s fiery locks have faded with age, he’s a classic carrier of the redhead gene—thanks to his mother, Princess Diana, and the long-standing red tones in the British royal family. Even though Harry’s current hair appears darker, he still carries the recessive MC1R gene responsible for red hair, which he can pass on to his children.

As for Meghan, her genetic background is less documented when it comes to hair color. If she also carries a hidden redhead gene—something not uncommon, even in people with dark hair—then the odds increase significantly. In such cases, there's roughly a 50-percent chance their child inherits red hair.

It’s not unprecedented in royal circles. Prince William’s children mostly have darker hair, but genetics can skip generations or surprise us entirely. Just like that, a single gene from each parent can combine in unexpected ways, resulting in a trait neither visibly carries.

Baby Archie may have entered the world with a subtle but symbolic splash of color—one that highlights not only the quirks of heredity but also the beautiful unpredictability of family traits. Whether this red hair lasts or darkens over time remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a charming reminder that DNA doesn’t always follow the obvious path.