Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Host a Charming Birthday Bash for Princess Lilibet

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Celebrate Daughter Princess Lilibet’s 3rd Birthday With Sweet Party

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently threw a special birthday celebration for their daughter, Princess Lilibet, who just turned 3 years old. They decided to celebrate a few days early, before her actual birthday on Tuesday, June 4.

The couple hosted a party over the weekend for little Lilibet, affectionately known as Lili, and invited their closest family and friends to join in on the festivities. According to People magazine, Prince Harry and Meghan also have a 5-year-old son named Prince Archie.

One month before Lili’s birthday, Meghan expressed her love for her little girl while she and Harry were in Nigeria to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

During their official school visit in May, Meghan shared with Lightway Academy students that their daughter, Lili, who is almost 3 years old, is much smaller than them. She fondly recounted a moment when Lili looked at her and saw herself reflected in her eyes, saying, “Mama, I see me in you.”

The Duchess of Sussex noted that she knew her toddler was speaking “literally” about seeing her reflection in her mother’s eyes but the moment stuck with Meghan.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Celebrate Daughter Princess Lilibet’s 3rd Birthday With Sweet Party

After hearing those words, she thought about them in a different light. She realized that while she saw herself in others and they saw themselves in her, she also saw a part of herself in everyone in the room.

Since Harry and Meghan decided to step back from their official royal duties in 2020, the royal family has not acknowledged the birthdays of Lili and Archie. According to royal correspondent Danielle Stacey, this is because Harry's father, King Charles III, took the throne in September 2022. As a result, the royal institution only publicly acknowledges the birthdays of working members of the firm.

Stacey explained to Hello! Magazine that since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer senior royals and do not carry out official royal duties, their children, like Archie, do not receive birthday messages from the palace. This practice is also extended to other non-working members of the royal family, such as Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Zara Tindall, as well as their children.

Harry, just like Archie and Lilibet, has not heard from his family overseas. Despite this, he received a special birthday surprise while at the Invictus Games in Germany in September 2023. During the Poland vs. Germany volleyball match, the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to him, making his day even more memorable.

Editor's P/S:

The celebration of Princess Lilibet's birthday highlights the close bond between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children. The intimate gathering with family and friends reflects their desire to create a loving and nurturing environment for their daughter. Meghan's heartfelt comments about seeing herself in her children and others underscore the transformative power of motherhood and the interconnectedness of humanity. Despite the lack of public acknowledgment from the royal family, the Sussexes continue to prioritize their family's well-being and create meaningful experiences for their children.

It is important to acknowledge the different protocols within the British royal family for acknowledging birthdays of working and non-working members. While the decision not to publicly acknowledge Lilibet and Archie's birthdays may be part of the institution's protocol, it also highlights the evolving nature of the royal family and its relationship with its extended members. As the monarchy adapts to changing times, the focus on working members allows the institution to prioritize its core responsibilities and maintain a clear distinction between official and private life.