The new photos quickly spread across social media, where royal fans shared mixed reactions. Many praised the children’s resemblance to their father, while others debated the exact shade of their hair. “Lili’s hair is something else,” one X user commented, while another said, “Archie’s hair looks dark red.”

Some observers noted subtle variations between the siblings’ tones. “I think Lili is a strawberry blonde right now,” one fan wrote. “You can tell they’re close — it’s such a lovely photo.” Another added, “Archie’s hair is more auburn or copper, while Lilibet’s looks lighter.”

However, not everyone was convinced. A number of skeptics suggested that the image may have been digitally altered to make the children’s hair appear redder than in previous photos. “I think the photo has been filtered,” one critic commented. “It doesn’t match other pictures — she really wants to portray them as royal children, red-haired like daddy.”

That remark drew over 80 likes and several agreeing responses. Another commenter questioned the inconsistencies: “Redheads in my family were born that way and stayed that way. Even with different lighting, the Montecito kids’ hair seems to change color too often.”

Others accused Meghan of deliberately emphasizing her children’s connection to their royal heritage. One harsh critic wrote: “This is all about Meghan. She doesn’t care about her kids — she uses them for attention. It’s disgusting.”

Whether filtered or not, the photo once again placed the Sussex family squarely in the public spotlight — a reminder of how even a simple birthday post can ignite fresh debate about one of the world’s most watched families.