Meghan MarkleandPrince Harryare celebrating their daughterLilibet’s first birthday with the release of an adorable new photo.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex invited close friends and family to gather for a “casual, intimate backyard picnic” on Saturday at their Frogmore Cottage home, a spokesperson for the couple shared on Monday.
In the sweet photo, Lili smiles as she plays in the yard of her family’s home. She wears a blue dress and a white lace bow in her red hair — which she inherited from dad Harry!
Close family friend and guest Misan Harriman who attended Lilibet’s party with his wife and children took the “candid, spontaneous photograph that the Duke and Duchess are pleased to share today,” the spokesperson added.
Baker Claire Ptak from East London’s Violet Bakery was tasked with creating a special cake for Lilibet. Ptak also created Meghan and Harry’s wedding cake in 2018.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s daughter Princess Lilibet.Misan Harriman
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They were “amazed to learn that people around the world made donations” amounting to over $100K to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) in her honor," the spokesperson continued, adding that the couple “extended their gratitude to all who have shown support for the organization, which is especially near to their hearts.”
WCK is first on the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crisis. They build resilient food systems with locally-led solutions. Most recently, they provided support in Uvalde, TX and Ukraine.
Last week, Meghan and Harry traveled to the U.K. with their two children — Archie, 3, and Lilibet, who turned 1 on Saturday — for the Queen’s Platinum celebrations. They stayed at their U.K. home, Frogmore Cottage, which is just half a mile from Windsor Castle. They returned to California on Sunday.
The trip marked Lili’s first visit to the U.K. Meghan and Harry’s daughter was born in California and had yet to visit her dad’s homeland. Archie was born in the U.K. on May 6, 2019, but hadn’t been back since he was six months old.
The trip also gave Lili the opportunity to meet her great-grandmother,Queen Elizabeth, for the first time. The 1-year-old is named for the monarch, asLilibet was the Queen’s childhood nickname.
Meghan Markle with the royal children at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Color on June 2.Kelvin Bruce
While Archie and Lili didn’t attend any of the Jubilee events, Meghan and Harry stepped out on Thursday for Trooping the Colour and on Friday for a thanksgiving service in honor of the Queen at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Theydid not attend the Platinum Party at the Palaceon Saturday evening nor Sunday’sPlatinum Jubilee Pageantoutside Buckingham Palace.
Members of the royal familymarked Lili’s big milestone on social media, withQueen Elizabeth,Prince WilliamandKate MiddletonandPrince Charlesand Camilla’s official accounts sharing birthday tributes to Lili.
“It was great, it was really nice to see her. To see her in an element of privacy was nice,” Harry toldToday.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s 2021 holiday card with Archie and Lilibet.Alexi Lubomirski
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The Archewell founder also noted that although his family is not based in England, he continues to check up on the Queen.
“I’m just making sure that she’s, you know, protected and got the right people around her,” he explained of the Queen, who had tested positive for COVID-19 in February. “You know, home — home for me, now, is you know, for the time being, is in the States.”
source: people.com
