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In 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced public and media scrutiny when they were criticized for talking up environmental awareness while traveling on gas-guzzling jets. 2020 is already sparking a debate about how the Sussexes are hypocrites — this time over a gift that baby Archie received for Christmas.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle son archie
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Karwai Tang/WireImage

The Sussexes took a break

Prince Harry and Markle enjoyed their Christmas away from the annual royal family holiday gathering and out of the spotlight.

A statement from Buckingham Palace explained: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are looking forward to extended family time towards the end of this month. Having spent the last two Christmases at Sandringham, Their Royal Highnesses will spend the holiday this year, as a new family, with the Duchess’ mother Doria Ragland. This decision is in line with precedent set previously by other members of the Royal Family, and has the support of Her Majesty The Queen.”

What did Archie get for Christmas?

While the details of Prince Harry and Markle’s time away from their royal duties haven’t been revealed, an insider claims to know what Archie received for Christmas.

A source told Us Weekly: “Archie is the center of Meghan and Harry’s world and they can’t help it. For Christmas, they bought him books, building blocks and a baby ball pit.”

The insider added that their choice of gifts wasn’t over-the-top, as some might expect, noting: “It’s not all about extravagant gifts for them.”

There was a debate over one of the Christmas presents

During a discussion of the Sussexes’ Christmas on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine, a heated debate started over one gift that a panelist found unacceptable: the ball pit.

Panelist Lowri Turner weighed in on the couple receiving the gift, saying that accepting it sent the wrong message.

Jamelia, another panelist, disagreed, however, saying: “They got a ball pit as a gift and obviously the papers are saying this is really bad.”

Turner asked: “What is a ball pit made of Jamelia?”

Jamelia noted: “Well this is the thing people are now attacking them because it is made of plastic,” to which Turner noted: “A huge amount of plastic.” She added: “Who else has a ball pit? Killing the planet personally.”

Jamelia, however, continued to defend the couple, sharing: “That’s the thing, this was a gift, so they can say someone else gave it to him.”

Vine weighed in with this opinion: “I have not previously thought that a ball pit is an atrocious thing. The thing I have heard about ball pits is that in public they have got so many germs no one child should ever go near them.”

Jamelia noted: “That’s why we have them at home and the thing is as well I am a huge advocate for wooden toys and stuff like that.”

Turner continued, reasoning that the couple are hypocrites, as she explained: “We have to remember here are a couple who do promote themselves as being interested in the fate of the planet. You can’t have a ball pit made of massive amounts of plastic!” Jamelia responded: “What you’re suggesting is that they should basically live in a tent and light fires.”