It can be safely assumed that Princess Lilibet remains unaware of her parents' past. Born in the U.S. after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to Montecito, California, her upbringing has been markedly different from her father's. Although Lilibet celebrated her first birthday in the U.K., this event also fueled speculation and gossip.
Her royal aunt and uncle, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and her cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were all absent from Lilibet's first birthday party. The late Queen Elizabeth attended but reportedly declined to take a picture with her great-granddaughter.
The absence of William and Kate at Lilibet's birthday sparked reactions. While relations between the Waleses and Sussexes were at an all-time low, one of Meghan's friends refused to accept this as the reason and publicly mocked Kate.
On June 4, 2021, Harry and Meghan announced the birth of their daughter, Lilibet, their second child after Archie, born in 2019. A spokesperson for the couple expressed their joy in welcoming Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor to the world.
Royal family members, including Prince William and Kate Middleton, congratulated Harry and Meghan on the birth. However, relations between the Waleses and Sussexes have since become frostier.
Lilibet was born in the U.S. after her parents left the Royal Family, allowing her to grow up away from the paparazzi that once hounded Harry and Meghan. As a result, Lilibet benefited from a calmer, more private introduction to the world.
Living in the U.S. meant it took some time for Lilibet's U.K. family to meet her. Finally, during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee Celebration in 2022, Lilibet was introduced to her great-grandmother. On June 4, 2022, Lilibet celebrated her first birthday with a party at Frogmore Cottage, their then-U.K. base.
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Meghan and Harry organized a backyard picnic for their daughter's big day. Their friend, Misan Harriman, released a lovely picture of Lilibet celebrating, one of the few public photos of her.
The picnic marked the first time Lilibet met her great-grandmother and her grandfather, then-Prince Charles. Despite their pleasure in seeing Lilibet, no photos of the meeting were made public. According to The Sun, Queen Elizabeth banned Harry and Meghan from having a photographer present.
An insider told The Sun that Harry and Meghan wanted their photographer to capture the moment, but they were told it was a private family meeting. Royal expert Camilla Tominey reported that the Queen refused a photo due to having a bloodshot eye, not wanting to be seen in public images.
Tominey wrote in The Telegraph that Harry hoped to get a photo in the future. However, new reports suggest Queen Elizabeth’s refusal was due to a "lack of trust" towards Harry and Meghan after their Oprah Winfrey interview, according to royal expert Phil Dampier. The Queen wanted to avoid any potential exploitation of the photo.
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Dampier told The Sun that despite the Queen's health struggles, she was sharp and realized any photo with Lilibet could be exploited. He added that the Queen was displeased with the name "Lilibet" being presented as a fait accompli and thus said "no photographs."
Only Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips’ children attended the party, with Prince William, Kate, and their children absent. Tensions remained high, and things haven't improved much since.
Prince William and Kate Middleton had other commitments on Lilibet’s birthday, which was the given reason for their absence. However, royal expert Christopher Andersen told Us Weekly that the future king and queen made "no effort" to introduce George, Charlotte, and Louis to Lilibet during the Sussexes’ U.K. visit.
After William and Kate declined the invite to Lilibet’s picnic, Meghan’s friend, Garcelle Beauvais, criticized Kate’s decision, calling it "shady." Beauvais told E! that the excuse of other commitments seemed insincere and wondered why they couldn't delay their flight to meet Lilibet and Archie.
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Family feuds are never simple, especially with children involved. The ongoing "battle of the brothers" and Harry and Meghan’s move to the U.S. have kept Harry from seeing his nephews and niece for some time. Royal biographer Tom Quinn stated that Harry is "devastated" about the rift.
Princess Lilibet turned three on June 4, 2024, celebrating with a low-key party. Her first birthday was in the U.K., her second a "celeb-packed all-American bash" in California, and this year, festivities were quieter. People Magazine reported a "pre-birthday bash" with close friends and family at their Montecito mansion.
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During a recent visit to Nigeria, Meghan revealed details about Lilibet, mentioning her love for "singing and dancing." Meghan shared a touching moment when Lilibet saw her reflection in Meghan’s eyes and said, "Mama, I see me in you," which Meghan found deeply meaningful.
While the Sussexes have kept Archie and Lilibet out of the spotlight, royal expert Tom Quinn suggests this might change, as the couple considers including their children in future appearances.
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Quinn told the Mirror that Meghan is aware of the positive publicity that the charming royal family image can generate. He added that as Harry and Meghan pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions, Kate and William may be left floundering.
Should Harry and Meghan keep their children out of the spotlight or bring them on future tours? Share your thoughts on this article!
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