Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated their daughter Lilibet's third birthday on Tuesday, June 4th.
The special day was spent in California, where the couple typically keeps their children’s celebrations understated, offering only brief glimpses in their Netflix documentary series. However, insiders revealed that the family hosted a party at their Montecito home over the weekend to mark this milestone ahead of the official birthday.
The Sussexes welcomed guests to their California estate, as reported by People. While several family members attended, there were no royal attendees. Lilibet's young friends were present, but no new photos from the party have surfaced; only old ones recycled from previous events were shared. This absence of new photos suggests that Meghan wanted to acknowledge the party publicly without sharing details that might attract undue attention.
Notably absent were Uncle William, Aunt Catherine, cousins George, Charlotte, and Louis, and Grandfather Charles. Presumably, the only family member present was Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. Friends and possibly some of the Sussexes' associates were likely there, but no pictures or details about them have been shared.
Rather than opting for a low-key celebration, Harry and Meghan organized a pre-birthday bash over the weekend for Lilibet's third birthday. While hugely expensive presents were reportedly avoided, the couple's mansion was bustling with celebrities, including Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and their daughter Daisy, who is a few months older than Lilibet.
According to Tom Quinn, no invitations were issued to members of the royal family. Quinn added that Harry's friends believed he didn't want the royals to attend, knowing they likely wouldn't come anyway. One of Harry's old army friends mentioned that Harry felt saddened by the ongoing feud with his family, which prevents Archie and Lilibet from having relationships with their cousins.
The royal family did not make any public announcements for Lilibet's birthday, nor did Harry or Meghan. According to US Weekly, there is no protocol to wish non-working members of the royal family birthday wishes. However, the royal family did publicly mark Lilibet's first birthday in June 2022 with a post from their official social media accounts. Meghan seems intent on managing public perception and reactions without letting the actual celebration overshadow the event.
An article in People magazine mostly rehashed old information, indicating there was little new to report. It appears Meghan is isolating her children from the rest of the family, using them to further her own ends. Speaking to The Sun, royal expert Phil Dampier commented on the underlying sadness of the situation, noting that King Charles has barely seen his grandchildren. Dampier believes King Charles has met Lilibet possibly once and Archie only a few times. Consequently, the seventh and eighth in line to the throne are growing up in California with American accents, far removed from their royal relatives.
