The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have hired a nanny [1]! Surprising? Not at all. They are, after all, royals. What is surprising is that anyone would take issue with their child care choices [2]. But, alas, we're living in a world where mothers are criticized for everything they do and do not do for their child/ren. And Meghan Markle [3], with the already intense and completely unfair scrutiny [4] she's endured in her first year as a royal, is in an especially difficult position to receive such backlash.
Meghan and Harry have done many things "their way" [5] by bucking traditions and paving their own royal path. Choosing to spend the first few weeks of Archie's life without hired help may have led some to believe they'd handle the care of their son differently than, say, Prince William and Kate Middleton (they only have one nanny [6], for the record). But wanting to keep the initial newborn moments to yourself and attempting to go back to work without help are two very different things.
Let's remember that Prince Harry and Meghan are working members of the British royal family. They attend events [8], travel, hold important meetings, and have countless other royal duties [9]. That means they need child care, especially once Meghan returns from maternity leave in the Fall.
For "regular people," having a nanny is a luxury, but for these busy, famous, working parents, having outside help inside their home is just plain practical. It affords them flexibility and discretion (yes, there's a nondisclosure agreement [10]) that other forms of child care just can't offer.
These are royals, after all; they're not sending heirs to the throne [11] to the day care down the street. Plus, if you've ever looked for child care for a weeks-old baby, you'll know that (at least in the US), your options are extremely limited until your little one is much older.
But forget that their choice to hire a nanny makes the most sense. It's their choice, which means, like with every other parenting decision they make, it belongs to them. You don't have to agree with it or even understand it.
Personally, I applaud them. Raising babies is hard work [13] and it's absolutely necessary to get help in whatever form you can. In this case, Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, lives in the US and Harry's side of the family is understandably unable to assist with Archie regularly — this isn't a "grandma watches the baby on Wednesdays" situation. Employing a nanny is a must. And with the means to do so, why wouldn't they? An extra set of hands, the ability to work outside the home, time for self-care [14], and maybe even a date night? Sign. Me. Up.
So, while the cost of child care is a burden for many families [15] in the US and the duke and duchess are certainly in a privileged position to be able to do so, hiring a full-time nanny isn't an extravagant option for them — it's the only option. And it doesn't matter if you agree with it or not.