Whether you like it or not, we always look forward to royal traditions. Be it the royal Christmas card or the monarch's two birthdays—the way they celebrate and mark occasions is loved by many across the world.
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One of these dearly loved and looked forward to traditions also includes posting pictures on birthdays or special days - who can forget Kate Middleton’s editing fiasco on Mother’s Day.
While the royals in the UK ensure to publicly mark birthdays with sweet portraits on their social media channels, Prince Harry and Meghan have taken a different approach. Especially given the fact that Duke has repeatedly emphasised his wish of wanting a ‘private’ life for his children.
Privacy for the Sussex children
Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan have stepped down from their Royal duties, they have largely lived a more discreet life in Montecito with their two children - Prince Archie and Lilibet. Up until February this year, the couple had no individual channel that could provide information on their whereabouts or what their lives look like now - then came their new website that also sparked waves of criticism.
Regardless of being liked or not, many Sussex fans hoped that the website would serve as a bridge between them and the couple’s life in the US. Many also hoped that they may post pictures of their children to mark their birthdays. Earlier this year, Prince Archie celebrated his fifth birthday on May 6 and the Sussex couple celebrated it privately before embarking on their trip to Nigeria. The family is now celebrating Lilibet’s third birthday today.
How did Princess Lilibet celebrate her third birthday?
According to Hello! Magazine, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex marked Lilibet’s birthday with a pre-birthday bash over the weekend. Reportedly, the intimate celebration took place at their home in Montecito, California and included close friends, family and some of Lilibet’s young friends. Like Prince Archie’s birthday celebration in May, the Sussex couple is likely to not publicly mark Lilibet’s birthday. According to The Express, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not release official pictures of their kids on their birthdays like the Prince and Princess of Wales.
In June 2022, Lilibet’s birthday was celebrated in the UK as the Sussex family travelled to the UK for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee festivities. The Sussexes gathered at Frogmore Cottage and arranged a ‘casual, intimate backyard picnic’ party for Lilibet.
Possible plans for her third birthday, including call from her grandfather
However, this year, Royal Expert Jennie Bond believes that the couple may have approached things in a better way. Comparing Lilibet with a regular three-year-old, Jennie predicted that this year’s birthday celebration for Lilibet could include ‘bouncy castles and princess dresses’ with Meghan’s yummy homemade food. She told OK! Magazine:
Three-year-old birthday parties are all about bouncy castles and little girls in princess dresses. Of course, Lilibet is already a princess, but I’m sure her mum will still want to dress her up for her big day. After all, that’s half the fun of having a little girl.
She also predicted that Lilibet could now insist Prince Harry ‘for a pet to cuddle’ and added:
I expect her birthday will be full of sunshine, squabbles with her brother, fun games with her toddler friends and some delicious home cooking from her mum.
It will no doubt be an all-American affair at their Montecito mansion and I would expect to see a sprinkling of celebrities and a laid-back party, which hopefully will include some other toddlers.
King Charles and the Sussex couple may have a rift going on about his birthday presents. However, Jennie predicts there would have been a birthday phone call along with some gift for ‘Lili’ by her grandfather. She said:
It would be nice to think the day might include a video call to Lilibet’s grandfather, King Charles and hopefully, some sort of gift has been arranged and will be delivered to Montecito for her birthday.
Meanwhile, it is understood that King Charles or the Royal Family will not be marking Lilibet’s birthday on any of their social media accounts. Traditionally, the Royals post a happy birthday message for Royal Family members. Despite Prince Archie and Lilibet being a part of the family, the senior Royals are expected to not post any messages for them, reports Mirror.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s future plans with Archie and Lilibet
This comes after Meghan Markle recently sent a letter to Imperial Majesty Oluwu of Iso, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi to thank him for their successful visit to Nigeria. According to GB News, the Duchess has vowed to return to her ‘home’ with her children one day. In 2022, the former actress discovered through a DNA test that she is 43 per cent Nigerian. As such, she called the African nation ‘my country.’
Now in a letter obtained by the Western Post, Meghan wrote:
Your Imperial Majesty, Thank you for your warm welcome to Nigeria... Our visit to Nigeria was important for many reasons, but not least because it gave us an opportunity to explore and understand my heritage, which extends to our children. We look forward to coming back home one day.
Meghan has previously confessed that Nigeria will always occupy a special place in her heart. She said:
It was such warm hospitality and it was a really meaningful trip. It was incredibly memorable and special. That alone is the best souvenir to take with us - all the memories we've made.
During their recent Nigeria trip, the Sussex couple didn’t take their children along but the future could see a trip along with Archie and Lilibet.
Read More
⋙ Prince Harry & Meghan: Could their children, Archie and Lilibet become working royals in the future?
⋙ Meghan Markle 'worries' Archie and Lilibet 'will blame her' for isolation from Royal Family
Sources Used
Hello! Magazine: Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's daughter Princess Lilibet's Montecito birthday bash at $14 million mansion
Express: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle set to follow tradition with Princess Lilibet's birthday
OK! Magazine: Princess Lilibet is three! Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s birthday plans – from ‘celeb guests’ to ‘surprise from the King’
Mirror: Royal Family birthday tradition that gave Kate Middleton chance for a dig at Prince Harry
GB News: Meghan Markle mentions Archie and Lilibet in letter vowing to return to Nigeria with Prince Harry
