Meghan Markle and Prince Harry left Archie behind during UK trip over coronavirus fears

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left their toddler behind in Canada as they wrapped their final round of royal appearances in the UK — because of the coronavirus pandemic, reports said Thursday.

On her last day as a senior working royal Monday, Markle met with 23 young scholars at Buckingham Palace for a conversation that touched on COVID-19 — and led her to give an answer about 10-month-old Archie’s absence, according to The Telegraph.

“The decision to leave Archie behind in Canada came not out of petty spite, as reported in some areas, but out of concern for his health during the threat of a global pandemic,” wrote Telegraph columnist Bryony Gordon, who attended the meeting.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were branded as “spiteful” by royal watchers over their decision — especially since it meant Archie would miss out on time with his great-grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, both in their 90s.

During a chat with a close friend, Markle, 38, also reportedly said she wasn’t deliberately trying to stop the royal family from seeing 10-month-old Archie.

“She said it’s not like she was intentionally keeping [Archie] away, but it made no sense to bring him and put him in harm’s way,” a source told UK’s Express.

The devoted parents stayed in close contact with their child throughout the last week by “FaceTiming with him every day,” a source told People.

Markle is reportedly “glad” to have left the UK amid the outbreak, according to Express.

“Meghan said the whole thing is alarming and that she’ll be glad to get home and be with Archie,” the source said.

Harry, 35, apparently told the Queen he’d bring Archie back in May for a visit, “but if the coronavirus escalates, he’ll have to rethink the decision,” a source told In Touch.