Meghan Markle marked her daughter’s fourth birthday with a sweet tribute and never-before-seen family snaps. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, 4 June, the Duchess of Sussex shared intimate black and white photos featuring her daughter, Lilibet. One image captured Meghan cradling Lilibet on a recent boat outing, while another showcased a baby Lilibet nestled into her mother.
Alongside the images, Meghan penned: “Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives – and each day is brighter and better because of it. Thanks to all of those sending love and celebrating her special day!”.
(Image: Instagram/Meghan Markle)
The Duke and Duchess are expected to hold a celebration for Lilibet’s milestone birthday. However, one family member who is set to miss the festivities is her grandfather, the King.
In a dramatic turn last month, Prince Harry disclosed that his father has cut off communication with him following a failed Court of Appeal case regarding his security measures in the UK, reports the Mirror.
The only known occasion when Lilibet met her grandfather was three years earlier, during an emotional visit for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which was one of the times Harry and Meghan introduced their children to the UK.
Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond expressed her sorrow over the likelihood that the King won’t be present for Lilibet’s birthday, describing it as “incredibly sad”. Speaking to the Mirror, she said: “Her birthday is mid-week, so I assume it will be a school day for Lilibet, but I’m sure there’ll be time for a tea party or celebration of some kind.
(Image: Instagram/Meghan Markle)
“Kids’ birthdays are always fun and I think Meghan is the sort of person who will put a great deal of effort and care into making the day extremely magical for her little girl.
“I’m sure it will all be picture perfect. Having just celebrated the fourth birthday of my own granddaughter – the smiles, the laughter, the love and the fun – I can only imagine the pain that Charles must feel when he thinks about all he is missing. These are years and occasions that cannot be relived and, once passed, they are gone forever. It’s incredibly sad.”
Lilibet is becoming increasingly visible on Meghan’s Instagram account. Harry and Meghan have been vigilant in protecting their children’s privacy, with even the images shared on social media being carefully chosen to avoid showing Archie or Lilibet’s full faces.
Jennie also remarked: “I suppose Meghan is showing the children more on Instagram because she knows there is a public appetite for photos of them. But she’s being very coy about allowing us to see what they really look like.
(Image: Getty Images)
“That’s fair enough, if she wants to protect their privacy, though you could certainly argue that there’s a very fine line between using them to publicise her Instagram account and her determination to keep their family life private.
“With both children at school, she and Harry will obviously have a bit more time to pursue their various activities. Meghan seems to be ramping up her projects more and more, but I think they will both continue to put their family first – just like William and Catherine. And there’s nothing wrong with that if you are lucky enough to be able to do so.”
Lilibet, the youngest grandchild of the King, was born on June 4, 2021, in California. She was christened Lilibet Diana in honour of her great-grandmother, the late Queen, and her grandmother, Princess Diana. She is seventh in line to the throne and, unlike her older brother Archie, has never resided in the UK – only visiting once.
