Prince William and Princess Kate 'Sent a Gift' to Lilibet After Her Birth, New Book Reveals
Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly hoped that their three children could have a relationship with their cousins in California.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's high-profile 2020 exit remains etched in royal history as one of the monarchy's messiest chapters. It didn't just change their jobs; it effectively killed their once-tight bond with the rest of the family—especially with William and Kate. But even after the Sussexes settled across the pond, the Waleses seemingly tried to reach out. According to royal author Russell Myers, the birth of Princess Lilibet prompted a rare olive branch from London, with the couple reportedly sending a gift and a note to California to try and mend fences.
In his biography, William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, Myers claimed that after Harry and Markle's move to California, the Prince of Wales was furious and vowed never to speak to his brother again. However, William and Middleton temporarily changed their stance after Lilibet's birth. Myers wrote, "William and Catherine sent a gift and a card of congratulations—although that would be the extent of their contact," suggesting that their efforts might've gone to vain.
Shortly after the birth of the second Sussex child, William and Middleton publicly congratulated Harry and Markle with a sweet social media post. Accompanied by a black and white photo of Harry and a pregnant Markle holding baby Archie, came the caption, "We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan, and Archie." After Markle gave birth on June 4, 2021, a source told US Weekly that the Waleses were informed and had sent Lilibet a gift. That same month, during a conversation with the press, William wished Harry the best for his future and to "enjoy having a newborn in their family and all the joys that come with that."
Technically, even if their alleged efforts to reconcile fell on deaf ears, Myers stressed that the Prince and Princess of Wales would never stop their three children from contacting their cousins. He penned that although William and Middleton had no direct contact with the Sussexes, "they privately maintained that if there was a way for their children to have a relationship with their cousins in the future, they would not stand in their way." While George, Charlotte, and Louis have spent time with Archie, it’s still a mystery if they’ve ever actually met Lilibet.
And elsewhere in his biography, the royal author detailed the emerging cracks in the Sussexes' and the Waleses' relationship. He describes a 2018 meeting, in which William and Middleton had reportedly invited Harry and Markle to 'clear the air' and confront them about their alleged staff bullying. Unsurprisingly, the meeting didn't go as planned. Myers argued that the Duke and Duchess "were unwilling to concede they were responsible for the departure of two of Meghan's PAs, or for the general desperate atmosphere, in which members of staff reported they were sick with stress," with William accusing Markle of being difficult and rude.
