Royal Family

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are giving their royal baby a taste of the commoner's life by attempting to go undercover for an ordinary day at a British pub.

The Duke and Duchess hit up The Rose & Crown in Windsor, England and as you can see in photos obtained by TMZ ... they blended right in with their infant son, Archie.

Harry had a tight grip on Archie's car seat while Meghan lugged some more baby gear, during the family outing a few Sundays back. The royal tyke, who was less than 4 months old at the time, had a blanket over him and appeared to be napping.

Instead of taking in a cricket or football (soccer) match on the telly ... we're told Archie kept pretty damn quiet for the 2 hours the family was there. Not a single peep outta the little guy -- even when Mom changed his nappy, (that's what they call diapers).

Mom and Dad enjoyed a roast dinner, the house specialty, and Harry helped himself to a couple of pints while Meghan settled for water. We're told they were treated just like all the other patrons -- who didn't bother the royals at all. So much so, one witness said it almost seemed like many customers didn't even recognize them.

They weren't all that incognito though ... with private security and 2 police officers in tow.

By the way ... the pub is just a stone's throw away from Frogmore Cottage, where Harry, Meghan and Archie live.

The pub visit seems to be the first low-key public outing they've made as a family since Archie's birth in May. They were all out together in July, but that was for Dad's polo match ... which is always a public spectacle.

Serena Williams was in championship mode ahead of the U.S. Open Final -- and that means she didn't have time to chat ... especially for silly questions about Meghan Markle.

The tennis icon left her hotel Saturday with a look of determination on her face as she boarded a waiting SUV, which was ready to drive her to the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Queens, NYC ... where Serena is facing off against Canadian Bianca Andreescu in the Women's Singles championship later. Paps were standing by, but SW made no time for them.

One photog asked if the Duchess -- a close friend of Serena's, who flew into town this week to watch her pal battle for the trophy -- was going to be a good luck charm for her. She didn't answer ... and the reason is probably this, Serena doesn't need luck.

While we're sure she appreciates Meghan coming out, her presence alone in the stands isn't likely to make a huge difference on how Serena performs. Nice try though.

The camera man made a pretty obvious note to Serena as she closed the door ... saying that the world would be watching this afternoon.

Yes, thanks for pointing that out. She's aware of that too.

Huge day for Princess Charlotte ... it's her first day of school and her Royal parents couldn't look prouder.

Prince William and Kate Middleton sported huge grins Thursday as they arrived at London's exclusive Thomas's Battersea school. The Royal family walked hand in hand with 4-year-old Charlotte and Prince George. Charlotte -- who is fourth in line to the throne -- looked giddy but also a bit nervous meeting the headmaster.

This is 6-year-old George's third year at the school. You can tell he's already a pro at schooling ... giving the headmaster a firm handshake. William said Charlotte's very excited for her first day as they all walked in.

Thomas's Battersea is a pricey private school. Tuition at the school with 560 students (21 students in Charlotte's class) is around $7,900 for ages 4 to 13 per term. But, Charlotte's getting a sibling discount ... which lowers tuition by about 150 bucks per term.

Prince Harry is defending his use of private jets, saying that on the rare occasions he might opt for one ... it's only for the well-being of his family.

The Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, have received some heavy criticism lately for cruising around in gas-guzzling private jets ... they took them at least twice in August.

At a presentation in Amsterdam Tuesday -- where PH was discussing a new environmental project within the travel industry called Travalyst -- he told reporters that he actually spends 99% of his life travelling the world by commercial plane.

However, he went on to say ... "Occasionally there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe. It's generally as simple as that."

You'll recall ... Elton John went to bat for Harry and Meghan when they came to visit him in the South of France, backing up Harry's words here by saying their private jet use was necessary for security reasons. The couple also flew private to Ibiza shortly before that.

For Harry, he says balance is the key with his private jet use -- adding that if he has to use a private flight, he works to offset his CO2 output (without getting specific). He says he wants to make that a regular thing in tourism and other travel in general.

Ellie Goulding just tied the knot with Caspar Jopling, and her wedding was a who's-who of British stardom -- plus one famous American who squeaked in ... Katy Perry.

The English pop star said "I do" Saturday at the York Minster cathedral all the way across the pond, where tons of famous Brits flocked in to witness the matrimony. We're talking Royals, folks -- Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Sarah, Duchess of York, were there.

No sign of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle here -- Ellie used to date Harry a little while back. Seems like she left on good terms with some of the Royal Family though!!!

There were other UK-born celebs who got an invite as well -- Sienna Miller showed up with her BF, Lucas Zwirner, as did James Blunt with his wife, Sofia Wellesley.

Orlando Bloom and Katy also walked into the church hand in hand -- he's English too, of course, so it looks like KP was among a few notable Yankees who made the cut. Then again, that might just be a coincidence ... Ellie and Katy are longtime pals.

Debbie Allen says Lara Spencer made lemonade out of her lemon of a joke about Prince George liking ballet ... but now it's time for everyone to grow up when it comes to guys dancing.

The dance legend was at LAX when we asked about Lara's on-air apology for making fun of Prince William and Kate Middleton's son ... she applauds her for having the courage to own up to her mistake.

Debbie says the ordeal highlights a bigger issue -- there should be no shame for men in the dance game. Allen wants folks to educate themselves and gives a great example of a legendary man who took dance to broaden his horizons and inspire creativity.

Debbie suggests, if it worked for that guy ... we should all take note.

As for Spencer's blunder, Allen's not going to hold it against her ... even if other big names in the dance community -- notably Abby Lee Miller -- are less forgiving.

Lara Spencer better not show her face at any ballet any time soon ... so says Abby Lee Miller, who thinks the GMA anchor's rip on Prince George's dance lessons should make her persona non grata.

The "Dance Moms" star tells TMZ ... Spencer's on-air ridicule last week of the 6-year-old Prince for liking ballet ... is straight-up sexist. As a result, Abby says Spencer might wanna steer clear of "The Nutcracker" this holiday season.

Abby is joining the chorus of boos that have been raining down on Lara ever since she poked fun at Prince William and Kate Middleton's eldest. However, Abby says Spencer can make amends IF she cuts a fat check to help boys and underprivileged children get dance lessons.

The way Abby sees it, Lara's mockery is a slap in the face to Prince George and kids around the globe who love to dance. She adds ... it's comments like this that bully young boys and make it hard for them to enter a dance studio in the first place.

As you know, Spencer's on-air apology didn't sit well with many fans, and clearly, you can count Abby in that group.

Royal baby Archie's got a new nanny -- his third in as many months since his birth -- and she's helping Meghan Markle accomplish one of her goals ... bringing multiculturalism to the Royals.

Prince Harry and Meghan's latest childcare pro was spotted stepping off a private jet with the family as they returned from vacation at Elton John's estate in France ... and TMZ's confirmed she is indeed their new nanny.

Here's what we know about nanny #3 from our Royal sources -- she's black, from Great Britain and was hired through an agency. As you may know, both Meghan and Harry have been advocates for race and gender equality ... so this choice makes sense.

This is the first time we've seen one of Archie's nannies in public -- so, truth is, one or both of the first 2 might have also been black. In any event, this is new territory for the Royal Family. Prince William and Kate Middleton's nannies have been white.

Our sources say the unidentified woman was hired about 2 months ago after Meghan and Harry went through 2 other nannies in their son's first 6 weeks. One of them was a night nurse.

We're told so far, so good ... Duke and Duchess have been happy with nanny #3.

Elton John wants the media to back the hell off of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle -- and warns if the harassment continues they'll end up like Princess Diana.

Sir Elton is livid about various reports and criticisms of the Royal couple going on gas-guzzling private jet trips -- most recently to Elton's home in France -- while advocating for environmental issues.

The famous singer says he's "deeply distressed" over the "distorted and malicious" accounts of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visiting him last week, and feels the need to protect Harry and his family "from the unnecessary press intrusion that contributed to Diana’s untimely death."

Elton says the couple's recent private vacay at his home was his way of providing them a peaceful break after a hectic year and their dedication to charity ... but it required a private jet ride for security reasons.

Because of Harry's commitment to the environment, Elton says he ensured the flight was carbon neutral -- by contributing to Carbon Footprint (a company supporting renewable energy) -- so the haters can shut it.

Elton insists it's time for the attacks to stop, saying, "cease these relentless and untrue assassinations on their character that are spuriously crafted on an almost daily basis."

As you know, Elton and Diana were very close friends, and clearly ... he's looking after her son like a protective papa bear.

Before the palace, Meghan Markle was shacking up in a chic Los Angles pad smack-dab in the middle of Tinseltown -- a home you can now call your own ... if you've got the cash.

The Duchess of Sussex's former L.A. house -- where she lived when she worked as an actress, before Prince Harry -- is currently for sale at a cool $1.8 million. It's in the mid-Wishire/Miracle Mile area near Hancock Park ... so close to just about everything Hollywood.

Meghan's old crib is a 4-bed, 3-bath colonial style house with over 2,000 sq. feet of space and an open floor plan. It's got a fireplace in the living room and a huge kitchen with an eat-in breakfast area. The interior of the home is super modern, with stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors throughout. It's got a pretty sweet backyard too, with a built-in awning.

A property fit for a West Coast king, really ... or a duchess, we should say.

Meghan owned the house while she was married to producer Trevor Engelson between 2011 and 2013. Eventually, they split and she moved to Toronto to film "Suits." It's unclear if Meghan was in possession of the home this whole time -- we doubt it -- but it just hit the market this month.

If Beyonce wasn't royalty before, she certainly is now -- she embraced Meghan Markle when, technically, commoners aren't supposed to touch ... unless a Royal does it first.

Bey and Jay-Z were in London Sunday for the UK premiere of the live-action 'Lion King,' and as they posed for pics on the red carpet ... none other than the Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived hand-in hand, and then pulled up for a stop and chat with Bey and Jay.

Someone filmed Meg and Queen Bey going in for a hug -- which was polite and brief -- and talking it up afterward. Meghan also went in to hug Jay, who was standing by.

No sign of Prince Harry in the video here, but we know he was there. Unclear if either of the power couples' kids were in attendance ... Archie gets a pass, but it'd be a tragedy if Blue Ivy wasn't in attendance. She kinda steals the spotlight anytime she's with her folks.

Anyway, the reason why the hug between Meg and the Carters is such a big deal is because -- per high society, unspoken nobility rules -- anyone who isn't an official Royal (sorry, Beyhive) is NOT supposed to make contact with a Royal without being engaged first.

LeBron James got taken to task for doing exactly that back in 2014, when he innocently put his arm around Kate Middleton in a photo-op ... a major faux pas. 

Meghan Markle and Baby Archie joined forces with Auntie Kate Middleton and her brood for a play date of sorts -- with both the kids and their daddies horsin' around in a field.

The Duchesses linked up Wednesday at Billingbear Park in Wokingham, England, where Prince Harry and Prince William were playing a charity polo match -- opposite teams, naturally. They had the support of their entire fam as they galloped after the ball, mallets in hand and helmets intact.

As the Royal papas squared off, their wives and children looked on from the crowd ... and, let's be honest, probably stole the spotlight.

Meg showed up cradling her newborn, who was sporting a comfy-looking white outfit, with his chubby legs sticking out. Kate, meanwhile, had her hands full with at least two of her boys -- Prince George and Prince Louis, the latter in full walking mode.

It's one of the first times we've seen Archie hang out with his cousins -- although something tells us it's just a haze to him at this point. He is just two months old, after all.

Meghan Markle has no time for commoners snapping pics of her at Wimbledon -- her security demanded people to turn their lenses away while she watched Serena Williams.   

British media consultant and former BBC reporter Sally Jones tell TMZ ... she was sitting in the members box, taking pics of Serena Williams when one of Meghan's bodyguards came up and said, "Would you not take photographs of the Duchess? She's here in a private capacity." 

Shocked at the request, Jones says she told the security guard she had no intention of photographing Meghan ... and wasn't even aware she was there before that moment. She says she was simply trying to take a shot of Serena. Jones tells us, she didn't take a single pic of Meghan, before or after she was approached by security.

Jones says it's apparent to her some people at the palace suffer from a feeling of "entitlement." She says the whole thing was ridiculous.

BTW, Jones wasn't the only one shooed away. Several other spectators with phones out were told to beat it. Although, it's certainly worth noting ... her security seemed fine with fans taking photos when Megan was signing an autograph for a little boy. Guess a photo op's still a photo op.  

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's son just hit a new milestone in Royal life ... becoming a Christian under the Church of England ... even though nobody really got to see it happen.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex held a closed-door christening Saturday morning for baby Archie in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle, where only about 25 people were reportedly in attendance for the intimate ceremony. They snapped this pic afterward.

It's the whole family here pretty much -- sans Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip -- with Meghan and Harry front and center, and Archie on mommy's lap.

Check out the mug on the baby BTW -- it's the first time we're seeing the kid's face in full view since he was born, and lo and behold ... the 2-month-old is absolutely adorable.

As for other details, the Royals have been pretty tight-lipped -- only saying in their announcement, "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are so happy to share the joy of this day with members of the public who have been incredibly supportive since the birth of their son. They thank you for your kindness in welcoming their first born and celebrating this special moment."

A rep added, "Their Royal Highnesses feel fortunate to have enjoyed this day with family and the godparents of Archie." No word on ID of godfather -- keepin' it in the family, it seems.

And, if you were wondering about the christening wear of the child, the Royals explained that too, saying it's actually a replica of a traditional gown that's been worn by royal infants for 11 years. Of course, the Royals are all about tradition ... in religion and otherwise.

One last fun fact -- the guy who handled Archie's christening -- Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby -- is the same dude who baptized Meg before she got hitched with Harry. She was already raised Christian, but it never hurts to make things official.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's son is a newly-minted New York Yankees fan -- all because the team took the time to make him a jersey while playing across the pond.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex crashed the Yankees-Red Sox game Saturday in London, where the two rivals are facing off this weekend for an historic two-game series ... the first to ever be played in Europe. Who better to invite than the Royal couple, right???

The Red Sox gave MM and PH a team onesie, which was cute ... but it didn't really hold a candle to the Yankees' gift -- a custom baby jersey, with Archie's name on the back.

If you watch Meghan's reaction here, there's no comparison ... Yankees took the cake with that thoughtful gesture. The onesie's cool and all, but c'mon ... make a jersey, fellas.

Anyway, Archie wasn't with his mom and dad at the game -- at nearly two months old, the newborn's probably at home soaking up some ZZZs. Not to worry though -- his parents made sure he was well-represented at the MLB event.

Prince William says he would be totally okay if any of his children are gay -- but at the same time ... he says he'd be somewhat concerned as well.

The Duke of Cambridge addressed the topic Wednesday while visiting the Albert Kennedy Trust in London -- where he was discussing a range of issues that affect LGBTQ youth. During the convo, someone asked Will how he would feel if any of his 3 kids ever came out?

Check out his answer ... it's interesting.

Wills makes it clear he'd fully support Charlotte, George or Louis if they came out publicly, saying, it's "absolutely fine by me." However, he adds that he'd also be "nervous" for them and what they'd have to potentially deal with as a Royal -- barriers, discrimination, persecution, hate, etc.

Still, all in all ... he'd have their backs.

The root of his concerns, however -- the fact his family, steeped in tradition and custom, is in a different position than most of their countrymen. While others coming out might be widely embraced when they come out ... the spotlight's much bigger for Royal family members.