Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will celebrate their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday in the UK today.
Amid the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the couple will mark the occasion by throwing a private party at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
According to royal reporter and biographer Omid Scobie, who is friendly with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Lili’s birthday will be a low-key affair.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said: “I think people are expecting some sort of big birthday extravagant event, that we’re going to see photographs from…”
“From what I’m told, we shouldn’t expect anything. Those moments with Lilibet are very much private between them and the Queen and of course we know how much she’s been looking forward to it.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who welcomed their second child this day last year in California, finally introduced Lilibet to her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II this week.
Their daughter was named in tribute to the British monarch, whose childhood nickname was Lilibet.
It was coined when the Queen struggled to pronounce her name properly as a toddler in the 1920s.
According to reports, the introduction occurred during a private lunch at Windsor Castle after Trooping the Colour, which marked the start of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Harry and Meghan attended the Trooping the Colour parade alongside members of the Royal family on Thursday.
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex – with the Duke of Kent, during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade 📸 ©Kelvin Bruce/Jim Bennett #PlatinumJubilee #HM70 #HarryandMeghan pic.twitter.com/OWhvk9nJLA
— Derek Momodu (@DelMody) June 2, 2022
However, the couple weren’t invited to appear on the royal balcony alongside the Queen during the ceremony, as they are no longer senior working members of the family.
Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his military titles due to sex abuse allegations against him, was also excluded from the traditional balcony appearance.
After Trooping the Colour on Thursday, members of the Royal family attended a special service at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday morning – where Meghan and Harry were greeted by huge cheers from the crowd.
The Duchess of Sussex stunned in a cream belted coat for the occasion, which she paired with a matching hat and stiletto heels.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have arrived at St Pauls Cathedral for a special service of #thanksgiving to mark the Queen’s #PlatinumJubilee.
The couple were at the #Queen‘s birthday parade yesterday, but this is their first public outing in the UK since arriving from the US. pic.twitter.com/8tBA0zb2C0
— The Royal Family Channel (@RoyalFamilyITNP) June 3, 2022
While royal fans were hoping to see the couple interact with Harry’s brother Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, they ended up sitting on opposite sides of the cathedral – fuelling rumours of a rift between them.
Queen Elizabeth was supposed to attend the service at St Paul’s Cathedral, but pulled out after experiencing “some discomfort” at Trooping the Colour on Thursday.
In a statement on Thursday evening, a spokesperson said: “The Queen greatly enjoyed today’s Birthday Parade and Flypast but did experience some discomfort.”
“Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s [service] Her Majesty with great reluctance has concluded that she will not attend.”
The British monarch has also pulled out of her scheduled appearance at Saturday’s Epsom Derby.
The Platinum Jubilee, set for June 2 to June 5, will honour Queen Elizabeth’s historic 70 years on the throne.
Harry and Meghan were invited to attend the Platinum Jubilee celebrations after they privately visited the Queen at Windsor Castle in April.
In a statement at the time, a spokesperson said: “Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are excited and honoured to attend The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this June with their children.”
