Prince Harry, Meghan Markle awarded for limiting family to two children

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been awarded for their "enlightened decision" to have no more than two children.

Harry told British Vogue in 2019 he and his wife Meghan were only planning on having two children to help reduce their impact on the environment.

The pair's newborn daughter Lilibet arrived in May and their son Archie was born in 2019. UK charity Population Matters, which campaigns to have a sustainable population, says the couple is being recognised as "a role model for other families" for their decision to have just two children.

"In choosing and publicly declaring their intention to limit their family to two, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are helping to ensure a better future for their children and providing a role model for other families," a spokesperson says.

"Having a smaller family reduces our impact on the Earth, and provides a better chance for all our children, their children and future generations to flourish on a healthy planet. We commend the Duke and Duchess for taking this enlightened decision, and for affirming that a smaller family is also a happy family."

Harry and Meghan will receive £500 (NZ$993) to donate to a charity of their choice, along with nine other recipients also honoured by Population Matters. All recipients were given the award to mark the United Nations' World Population Day, which was on July 10.

In his 2019 interview, Harry described the earth as "borrowed".

"Surely, being as intelligent as we all are, or as evolved as we all are supposed to be, we should be able to leave something better behind for the next generation," he said.