5 Times the Royals Reminded Us They Haven’t Forgotten Princess Lilibet

Meghan Markle shared two never-before-seen images of Princess Lilibet on Instagram to mark her fifth birthday today, affectionately calling her daughter "our dream girl" in the caption. Her life has been kept intentionally private since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020. This distance has naturally meant limited public interaction with her UK-based family. However, despite the thousands of miles and ongoing family tensions, the Royal Family has quieted the noise on several occasions to ensure the young princess knows she is very much a part of the fold.

“We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan, and Archie.” The Prince and Princess of Wales tweeted upon the news of Princess Lilibet's birth in 2021. This was a positive sign from the royal fold despite their ongoing cold shoulder for the Sussexes.

One week after Lilibet's birth, Kate Middleton publicly expressed her wishes for her niece during an engagement with First Lady Jill Biden in Cornwall, England. She stated, "Oh, I wish her all the very best," and expressed her eagerness to meet Lilibe. "I can't wait to meet her because we haven't yet, met her yet, so hopefully that will be soon,” she said. The interaction, which included a question about whether she had FaceTimed Lilibet, has gained over 400,000 views on TikTok. 

For her first birthday in 2022, Princess Lilibet was present in the UK at the time of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebration. Prince Harry and Markle hosted an intimate party at their Frogmore Cottage at that time. However, the Queen was unable to attend due to royal commitments. But her Majesty wished her little great granddaughter warmly on X, saying, “Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!” 

Similarly, William and Kate did not attend the princess's first birthday at Frogmore, as they were engaged in jubilee activities in Wales. They shared a birthday message on social media: “Wishing a very happy birthday to Lilibet, turning one today!” King Charles and Queen Camilla also commemorated the occasion on X, saying, “Wishing Lilibet a very happy 1st birthday today!”

Since the start of King Charles III's reign, Buckingham Palace has revised its social media policy to enhance public communication. Official accounts now only post public birthday wishes for "working royals" and their immediate families, which includes the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Excluded from these public wishes are Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children, as they are considered non-working royals. While the Palace's digital communication adheres to strict guidelines, it is reported that King Charles still privately sends birthday messages and gifts to his grandchildren in California.