Princess Lilibet has just turned two, but she’s already been in the royal spotlight several times, thanks in no small part to her parents, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The rift between Harry and the British Royal Family has been ongoing ever since he and Meghan decided to leave for pastures new. Things certainly didn’t change for the better when they, via interviews and Harry’s book, Spare, publicly attacked several Royal Family members, including King Charles himself.
Harry and Meghan were ultimately evicted from their English abode, Frogmore House, and only Harry was in attendance when King Charles was crowned. Even so, it’s rumored that King Charles is sad about not having a closer relationship with Harry and Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Though Charles can’t visit the kids frequently – far away as they are – that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. It was reported that he wished to send Lilibet a special present for her second birthday in early June, despite Harry warning him not to be too extravagant.
Whilst his heart is undoubtedly in the right place, royal experts are now claiming that King Charles forgot one significant thing for his granddaughter’s birthday.
It’s safe to assume that Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet understand very little of what’s happening around them regarding their family’s feud.
They’re steadily growing up in the US with their parents Harry and Meghan, and just weeks ago, Lilibet celebrated her second birthday. No senior royals attended her birthday at the Duke and Duchess’s home in Montecito, California, but reports suggest that King Charles wanted to give his granddaughter a present.
Princess Lilibet – 2nd birthday celebration
Readers will remember that Lilibet celebrated her first birthday in the UK with a big cake. Her parents had gathered a small number of guests for an intimate backyard picnic at the aforementioned Frogmore Cottage, and the occasion marked a rare opportunity for Archie and Lilibet to bond with family members they don’t otherwise get to see.
Indeed, Harry and Meghan have proven themselves well-versed in making the most out of occasions to celebrate. With Lillibet turning two, she most likely had a full day of surprises, including lavish gifts and plenty of love.
According to royal expert Jennie Bond, the young princess’ second birthday was to be an “all-American affair.”
“I would expect to see a sprinkling of celebrities and a laid-back party, which hopefully will include some other toddlers,” she told OK! Magazine.
“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.”
Whether or not her grandparents sent a video greeting is not known, but it’s said that King Charles had another idea in mind from the beginning.
People Magazine said 20 to 30 guests attended Lilibet’s birthday bash. Among those were Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, who has visited her grandchildren frequently, and Lilibet’s godfather, Tyler Perry. Moreover, Princess Diana’s two older sisters, Lady Jane Fellowes. and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, were there to celebrate the young princess’s big day.
After the tragic passing of Princess Diana in 1997, Harry and William were given plenty of support from their family members, though Harry once revealed he didn’t even get a hug from his father after being told the heartbreaking news.
King Charles wanted to give Lilibet that she’ll ‘remember forever’
Since Diana’s accident, Harry and his brother, Prince William, have remained close to their aunts. The fact that Diana’s sisters showed up to celebrate Lilibet’s birthday must have been a very joyful moment, not least for Harry.
At the birthday party, a gospel choir was believed to have performed several songs, including Oh Happy Day and This Little Light of Mine. The latter tune was also played at Harry and Meghan’s wedding.
An insider told the Daily Mail that “attendees were treated to an afternoon of food and dancing — with Archie enjoying a dance with his little sister.”
Princess Beatrice is reportedly the only senior royal to have visited Harry and Meghan in the US thus far. As stated, King Charles could not be there for Lilibet’s big day, though reports suggest he wanted to celebrate his granddaughter’s birthday in style.
According to New Idea, as reported by Express, Charles planned on giving Lilibet a lovely present for her 2nd birthday. The king wanted to give the little girl a gift she “will use and be hers.”
“Charles has had his aides looking at a custom-made cubby house, similar to what the Queen and Princess Margaret had when they were girls,” an insider revealed.
“He wants to give Lili something she will use and be hers. She’ll remember it forever – it’s going to be the ultimate surprise!”
While Harry and Meghan obviously have money to spoil their children, the former reportedly urged his father “to be less extravagant.”
“Harry is letting Meghan take charge of most of Lili’s gifts, but he was talking about adding more British books to the nursery that he used to love as a kid, like the Paddington Bear and Frog and Toad series,” a source added.
Charles has spent “hardly” any quality time with Archie and Lilibet
Any parent or grandparent knows how tough it is to be away from your children or grandchildren, even if it’s just for one day.
In King Charles’ case, he hasn’t seen Archie or Lilibet in almost a year, and it seems like it’s taken a toll on him.
In his new book OUR KING: Charles III: the Man and the Monarch, royal author Robert Jobson describes King Charles’s anguish over Archie and Lilibet, who are sixth and seventh in the line of succession.
Jobson writes that Archie and Lilbet are “always in Charles’ heart,” though the rift between Harry & Meghan and the royals has made things challenging.
“Unfortunately, due to the poor relationship with his second son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Charles has spent hardly any quality time with his other grandchildren, Archie and his sister, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor,” Robert Jobson writes in his book, as quoted by the Mirror.
“But those close to him say they are always in his heart. It is one of the reasons he finds the estrangement from his second son so difficult to cope with.”
No one knows whether King Charles plans to visit Archie and Lilibet in the US. However, it’s safe to say that following the coronation, the king and his wife, Queen Camilla, have plenty on their hands.
Although they took some time off after being crowned, Charles and Camilla’s royal household has already begun scheduling many future events, including visits all over the UK. In the fall, the king and queen are set to revisit France, a trip initially planned for March but canceled due to the many protests in the country.
Will King Charles visit his grandchildren in the US?
Next year will mean a demanding schedule for Charles, Camilla, William, and Kate Middleton. The king and queen have reportedly planned to go on the largest-ever official royal tour across Britain, the Commonwealth, and other nations worldwide, “extending a hand of friendship and support” from the Firm.
They are said to be prioritizing visits to Australia, New Zealand, and several Commonwealth realms in the Caribbean.
Moreover, a long journey to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa – about 10,000 miles away – is expected to take place in 2024.
In October, a royal source told the Mirror: “The King and his family are keen to hit the ground running in these crucial first few months and years of his reign.”
“He certainly wants to carry on the long-held mantra from his late mother of being seen to be believed and is very keen to get out and meet as many people as possible.”
Meanwhile, King Charles is said to have discussed visiting Canada “as soon as possible.” That would bring him relatively close to Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet, which could open the door for a first-ever visit to their Montecito, California home.
King Charles ‘snubbed’ Lilibet on her birthday
The royals always make sure to congratulate each other on social media. Despite the rift between Harry and the Firm, the Duke received a shoutout on his birthday from the royals last year. The same went for Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who were congratulated by both Prince William and Prince Kate and then-Prince Charles.
This year, however, appears to be different. The radio silence from royal social media accounts has been in full effect. That Archie didn’t get a royal ‘happy birthday’ through social media was not all that surprising, considering the royals had their hands full with King Charles’ coronation the same day. But for Lilibet, the case is different.
Royal experts have accused King Charles of snubbing his granddaughter as he didn’t take to social media to mark her birthday. Interestingly, there was no social media message from Prince William and Kate Middleton either.
So why is that? Royal commentator RS Locke shared his thoughts and argued that Queen Elizabeth had a great relationship with Harry and Megan until her passing in September last year. The same perhaps can’t be said for certain other senior royals.
“Last year’s birthday acknowledgment was at the late Queen’s behest and an indication of the cordial relationship she had with Prince Harry, Meghan, and their children,” Locke told the Independent.
“A reflection of their strained relationship”
“King Charles’s decision not to publicly acknowledge his granddaughter’s birthday, nor Prince Archie’s last month, is a reflection of their strained relationship and likely an indication of the social media practices going forward.”
As mentioned, King Charles seemed to have sent Lilibet a birthday gift instead, and though his coronation fell on Archie’s birthday, he acknowledged the boy turning four.
During the coronation lunch for senior Royal Family members, held hours after the coronation ceremony, Charles gave Archie a toast “wherever he was” and wished him a happy birthday.
“It was apparently a very sweet moment,” a source told the Daily Mail.
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