Prince Archie received a free bicycle with anti-roll bars for his birthday, the British owner of a store in Montecito announced today.
Martin and Jennifer Blevins delivered it to Meghan and Harry’s $14.7 million mansion, along with flowers, balloons and a card for the little boy, who turned four on May 6.
The gift was revealed by the couple, who run the Mad Dogs & Englishmen Bike Shop in Montecito, after posting a thank you letter from the Sussexes on their Instagram page.
The married couple seem to be such fans of the royals that they’ve named one of their dogs Meghan Markle, according to their Insta, as they wheel their beloved pup around in a special sidecar attached to one of their luxury bikes. She also greets visitors to their shop, which is used by a host of stars, including fellow Briton Simon Cowell.
But the Blevins’ have been criticized by some who feel the bike should have gone to an underprivileged child. Sussex supporters were angry that they had shared the letter of thanks, on Sussex lettered paper but not signed by the couple, on social media.
One reviewer sarcastically wrote, “Too important to write letters yourself.” But one supporter said, “If you’re upset that a company is sending a bike to a little boy on his birthday as a sweet surprise, then you’re the one who has the problem.”
Meghan and Harry’s thank you letter after a Montecito store delivered a free bike for his 4th birthday last month
Archie, pictured with his family, would be delighted with the gift
Store owner Martin, a Briton in California, personally delivered the gift. He seems to be such a fan of the couple that he named one of their dogs Meghan Markle (pictured in a sidecar)
Meghan the dog greets visitors to their store in Montecito
told Jennifer Blevins PEOPLE that they made the “spontaneous” decision to give Archie a special birthday present.
She said, ‘He [Martin] went and he bought one of our little Specialized children’s bikes – they’re really nice little bikes – and he said, “This one’s perfect, it’s got training wheels”.
“And so he went and got some birthday balloons, and he got some flowers for Meghan and a birthday card, and he said, ‘Okay, I’m going to bike over and take it to their house.'”
Security then came to see who he was. After checking who Martin was and the packages, security allowed him to leave the gift.
“He said, ‘I’m just a British company in town who wanted to give Archie a present.'” she added.
A month later, the couple’s thank you letter arrived.
Mrs. Blevins said, “A courier came by our little shop on Coast Village Road and delivered that letter.
“I was joking, I said, ‘It better be a thank you letter’ and it really was. I did not expect that. I had no idea.
“It was so thoughtful because, you know, they took the time to write something personal and not just a generic thank you.
“Every celebrity in that town has bought bikes from us, and they all pass by there,” she recalls. “None of them have sent a thank you letter.
“His little sister Lili can enjoy it too when she grows up, it will be one they both like.”
Martin with compatriot Simon Cowell
The bike shop has been criticized for giving a prince a free bicycle and making it public
The letter from Harrison Colcord, from Prince Harry and Meghan’s office, was then posted to the bike shop’s Instagram.
It read: ‘On behalf of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, please accept their sincere thanks for the thoughtful gift you sent to Prince Archie on his fourth birthday. The bicycle has brought much joy and is much appreciated by the family. They asked me to convey their gratitude for the nice surprise.’
Harry had run to the airport shortly after the coronation to hop on a British Airways flight home so he could see Archie on his birthday last month.
The Duke of Sussex was spotted entering Heathrow, still in formal dress and holding an order of service before boarding the 3.45pm plane.
The service did not finish until 1pm, leaving Harry little time to make the 20-mile journey from Westminster, which would normally take nearly an hour by car.
But he was determined to return to his mansion in Montecito to be with Meghan on their oldest son Archie’s fourth birthday.
Harry, 38, landed at LA Airport around 6.30pm local time – 2.30am UK time – from where he was taken to his home, 90 miles up the coast.
The Duke’s Chauffeured Range Rover was seen picking it up from the airport’s exclusive Private Suites hanger.
It meant he was probably celebrating around 8pm with Meghan, 41, Archie and Lilibet, one.
Sources had stressed that Harry would be ‘in and out of the UK in 24 hours’ leading up to the occasion, not wanting to miss his son’s birthday.