Tuesday marks the third birthday of Princess Lilibet, daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Despite her royal lineage, she has had minimal interaction with her UK relatives, including her grandfather, King Charles III. Harry and Meghan are going all out to celebrate Lilibet's third birthday on June 4th. However, they will not be releasing a recent photo of Lilibet, breaking royal tradition once again. This move is expected to garner headlines criticizing them for not sharing an image of their daughter on her special day.
Speculation continues about Lilibet's residence, with reports suggesting she lives in Montecito, California. However, there is skepticism about this claim as there is no publicly available birth certificate or official record of her birth in the state register. Consequently, her exact location remains uncertain.
Her parents, Harry and Meghan, along with her older brother Archie, are believed to be organizing a festive party for Lilibet at their luxurious mansion. Despite presenting a close-knit family image, critics point out the couple's frequent vacations—over 25 trips in the past 18 months—often without their children, casting doubt on this portrayal.
During a recent tour of Nigeria, Harry and Meghan shared rare insights about their children while visiting a local school supported by their Archewell Foundation. Harry asked the students if singing and dancing were their favorite classes, to which Meghan added that these were Lilibet's favorite activities. She described how their daughter enjoys jumping around and even shared a touching anecdote about Lilibet recognizing her reflection in Meghan's eyes and saying, "Mama, I see me in you."
Royal author Phil Dampier noted that Lilibet's birthday festivities are overshadowed by the ongoing family rift. Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive show, Dampier highlighted the sadness that King Charles has not seen his grandchildren more frequently. He mentioned that the King has possibly only met Lilibet once and Archie a few times. These children, who are seventh and eighth in line to the throne, are growing up on the West Coast of America with American accents, far removed from their royal heritage.
Dampier also pointed out the estrangement between Meghan and her father, Thomas Markle, who reportedly has never met his grandchildren or even Prince Harry. This deep-seated family divide raises questions about whether the rift will ever be healed. As Lilibet and Archie grow older, they may begin to question their lack of connection with their royal roots and their extended family, potentially leading to further challenges.
Dampier concluded by suggesting that as these children mature, they may start to ask difficult questions about their family situation and their estrangement from the royal family. This could lead to complex emotional challenges as they navigate their unique identities and relationships.
