It’s likely that Princess Lilibet is still unaware of her parents’ history. Born in the US after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated to Montecito, California, her life contrasts sharply with her father’s upbringing.
Lilibet even celebrated her first birthday in the UK, which fueled further speculation and rumors.
Absent from Lilibet’s first birthday celebration were her royal aunt and uncle, Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as her cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Although the late Queen Elizabeth attended, she reportedly declined to take a photo with her great-granddaughter.
The absence of William and Kate at the birthday party quickly sparked reactions.
Despite the strained relations between the Waleses and Sussexes, a friend of Meghan’s was unwilling to see this as the cause, going as far as to publicly mock Kate…
Keep reading to see, what she said..
On June 4, 2021, Harry and Meghan joyfully announced the birth of their daughter, Lilibet, making her their second child after their son Archie, born in 2019.
A representative for the couple stated, “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are delighted to introduce their daughter, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world.”
Members of the royal family, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, extended their congratulations to Harry and Meghan on the arrival of their second child. However, the relationship between the Waleses and the Sussexes has become increasingly tense.
Born in the US after her parents had stepped back from royal duties, Lilibet was spared the intense media scrutiny that had previously followed Harry and Meghan, offering her a more peaceful and private start to life.
Since the Sussexes are based in the US, it took some time before Lilibet could meet her UK relatives.
At Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration in 2022, Lilibet met her great-grandmother. On her first birthday, June 4, 2022, her parents hosted a picnic at Frogmore Cottage in the UK, where they were staying at the time.
Their friend, Misan Harriman, captured and released a delightful photo of Lilibet from her birthday picnic, which remains one of the rare public images of her.
Queen Elizabeth refused to take picture with Lilibet at 1st birthday party
The picnic at Frogmore Cottage was the first occasion for Lilibet to meet her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and her grandfather, then-Prince Charles. However, despite their likely delight in meeting her, no photographs from this initial encounter were shared publicly. According to The Sun, Queen Elizabeth had explicitly prohibited the presence of photographers.
“Harry and Meghan had hoped to have their photographer document Lilibet’s first meeting with the Queen,” a source revealed to The Sun. “However, they were firmly denied. It was intended to be a private family gathering.”
Royal commentator Camilla Tominey has noted that the Queen chose not to be photographed with Lilibet due to having a bloodshot eye, concerned about how it might appear in public photos.
Writing for The Telegraph, Tominey mentioned that Harry had expressed a hope to capture a photograph of the two together in the future.
Recent updates, however, indicate that Queen Elizabeth had an entirely different reason for opting out of a photo with Lilibet…
Royal expert Phil Dampier suggests that Queen Elizabeth’s reluctance to be photographed with her great-granddaughter, Lilibet, stemmed from a “lack of trust” towards Harry and Meghan. This mistrust developed following their controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey just a few months prior. Consequently, she was cautious about any images being captured during their meeting.
“Despite any health issues, the Queen remained mentally astute. She was aware that a photograph with Lilibet might be misused,” Dampier explained to The Sun.
Dampier also noted, “I believe she was displeased with the assumption that the name Lilibet was chosen without her consultation. She firmly decided against any photographs.”
Meghan Markle’s pal mocked Kate Middleton after declining Lilibet birhtday invite
Reports indicate that the only children present at the party were those of Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips. Prince William, Princess Kate, and their children did not attend. At that time, tensions were still palpable and have shown little improvement since.
Although Prince William and Kate Middleton cited prior commitments on the day of Lilibet’s birthday party, royal expert Christopher Andersen suggested to Us Weekly that the future king and queen did not make any attempts to arrange a meeting with George, Charlotte, and Louis during the Sussexes’ visit to the UK.
The absence of Prince William and Kate Middleton from Lilibet’s first birthday picnic at Frogmore Cottage left one of Meghan’s friends notably frustrated.
Garcelle Beauvais, known for her role on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” expressed her disappointment to E! News about the Prince and Princess of Wales missing the event, labeling Kate’s decision as “shady.”
“It seems like a convenient excuse, ‘Oh, we’re out of town; I have to wash my hair.’ There’s definitely some shade being thrown,” Beauvais commented to E!.
“Couldn’t they delay their flight a few hours to meet Lilibet and Archie?”
Family conflicts can be distressing and often become more complicated when children are involved. The ongoing estrangement between the brothers and Harry and Meghan’s move to the US has meant that Harry has not seen his nephews and niece for some time. Royal biographer Tom Quinn noted that Harry is ‘devastated’ by the ongoing rift.
Princess Lilibet turns three – inside the low-key birthday celebration
Tom Quinn revealed to the Mirror that Harry is profoundly troubled not only by his strained relationship with his nephews and niece—George, Charlotte, and Louis—but also by the lack of connection between his own children and their cousins. “Harry and Meghan are eager to find a solution. They’d love for the cousins to meet regularly and develop a positive relationship as they grow, but the estrangement between Harry and Meghan makes this challenging. Harry hopes that, at the very least, the cousins will become friends when they’re adults,” Quinn explained.
On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, Lilibet celebrated her 3rd birthday. Her first birthday was marked in the UK, while her second featured a star-studded celebration in California. This year, however, the festivities were more subdued.
According to People Magazine, the celebrations for Lilibet’s birthday kicked off with a “pre-birthday bash” over the weekend. Harry, Meghan, and their children hosted the event at their Montecito home, surrounded by “close friends and family, as well as some of Lili’s friends.”
Meghan Markle revealed new details about Lilibet during Nigeria visit
Harry and Meghan have generally opted to keep their children, Archie and Lilibet, away from the public eye, sharing little in terms of photos or personal details. However, both children were featured in their Netflix series released in December 2022, where viewers noted Archie’s American accent.
Recently, during a three-day tour in Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games, Meghan visited a school in Abuja and shared that Lilibet’s favorite class involved “singing and dancing,” attributing her interest to “all the jumping around.” She also shared a touching moment with the students about Lilibet, recounting how her daughter once saw her own reflection in Meghan’s eyes and said, “Mama, I see me in you.” Meghan explained to the students that while Lilibet meant this literally, she found a deeper connection in those words, feeling a reflection of herself in everyone in the room.
While the Sussexes have been cautious about their children’s exposure to the media, there might be a shift in their approach. Royal expert Tom Quinn suggests that the couple is contemplating more public appearances with their children during international travels.
Quinn conveyed to the Mirror that Meghan views this as a positive step, believing that presenting a wholesome family image could be beneficial, especially as they aim to establish themselves as influential figures in the global arena.
He added that while Harry and Meghan are enhancing their public profile, Prince William and Kate are perceived to be less assertive in the media landscape, a perspective Harry and Meghan are keenly aware of.
What are your thoughts? Should Harry and Meghan continue to shield their children from the limelight, or would involving them in future tours be beneficial? Share your views below!
