The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son Archie has spoken publicly for the first time, wishing the world a ‘Happy New Year’ in a slight American accent. Harry and Meghan laughed as they coached their son to say the phrase during the final seconds of their new podcast show Archewell Audio, which featured Sir Elton John speaking movingly about his hopes for ‘healing’ in 2021.

Talking with what appeared to be an American twang to his voice, the royal toddler repeated ‘Happy’ after his father said it, then copied Meghan and said ‘New’. But the 19-month-old needed no further prompting to complete the phrase and could be heard giggling as he said ‘Year’.

It is thought Archie has spent more than a year living in North America, joining his parents when they had an extended break towards the end of 2019 in Canada, before they made the permanent move to California in March.

With his mother and grandmother Doria Ragland both Americans, it is likely he is picking up their accent which will be reinforced if he attends a local playgroup.

Archie’s surprise appearance on the debut podcast came after guests, including a number of famous, gave their thoughts on what they learnt from 2020. Meghan said they asked people who ‘inspire us’ to appear on the podcast series, which Spotify says will ‘uplift and entertain audiences from around the world’.

The venture – thought to be worth around $25 million (£18m) – follows a multi-million pound Netflix deal to become film and TV producers after the couple quit as senior members of the royal family at the start of 2020.

Sir Elton, when asked about his hopes for the future, said: ‘I hope after this awful pandemic has passed, and we can go back to some sort of normality, that we have become better people – and I hope for healing. ‘It’s been an awful time for people. People have lost loved ones, people have lost their businesses, they’ve lost work. It’s been an awful time for people, so I hope that we can heal in 2021.’

Other podcast guests during the 34-minute show included TV host James Corden, activist and tennis star Naomi Osaka, American filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry, wellness icon Deepak Chopra and teenage activist Christina Adane, from London – who campaigns on food issues.

The duke and duchess began their show by paying tribute to healthcare and frontline workers for their ‘sacrifices’ and remembered those who have lived through ‘uncertainty and unthinkable loss’ during the coronavirus pandemic.

Before the appearance of Archie, the couple broadcast the gospel song This Little Light Of Mine, which was played at the end of their wedding in May 2018. Quoting Martin Luther King, Meghan said: ‘It was the music that we wanted playing when we started our lives together. Because as we all know, “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that…”‘.

The podcast ended with the couple telling their listeners ‘love wins’. In an apparent nod to the pair’s tumultuous year Meghan says: ‘From us I’ll say no matter what life throws at you guys, trust us when we say, love wins.’ Harry added with a laugh: ‘Love always wins.’