Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s daughter Lilibet Diana just turned 1 year old over the weekend and many of her royal family members celebrated her birthday (including her namesake Queen Elizabeth II who she officially met!) While Prince William and Kate Middleton sent their niece a birthday message on social media, they did not visit her on her special day and instead headed to Wales with their children.
According to Entertainment Tonight, one anonymous insider source reportedly revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge simply had travel plans that fell on the same day as Lilibet’s birthday and they did not intend to avoid or skip any in-person celebration for the child.
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Lilibet’s landmark birthday happened to occur during Queen Elizabeth’s 4-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations, as multiple events hosted throughout the weekend honored the monarch’s 70-year reign. The source reportedly said, “It’s simply a coincidence they fell on the same day,” meaning Lilibet’s birthday and the tasks the Cambridges were supposed to complete, “There was no intended slight.”
Prince William and Middleton joined Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward in different parts of England to visit special hosts who were holding events to celebrate the Queen. As working royal family members, the Cambridge family (including Prince George and Princess Charlotte) visited Cardiff Castle in Wales to attend performances that were dedicated to the monarch and her 7 decades on the throne.
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On Saturday June 4th, the Cambridges honored their niece and took to Twitter to acknowledge her first year around the sun. The couple tweeted a message to her from their joint social media account writing, “Wishing a very happy birthday to Lilibet, turning one today!” with a cute balloon emoji.
Wishing a very happy birthday to Lilibet, turning one today!
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 4, 2022
Prince Charles and Camilla Bowles also wished Lilibet a happy birthday, writing on their Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall Twitter, “Wishing Lilibet a very happy 1st birthday today!” The child’s great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth, of course, also sent out a message in her honor on the Royal Family’s official Twitter; “Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!”
Wishing Lilibet a very happy 1st birthday today!
— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) June 4, 2022
Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 4, 2022
While Lilibet’s parents have left their senior roles and royal duties, they returned to the U.K. and threw a small, close-knit bash for her, with Entertainment Tonight reporting that her party was held at their old home in Frogmore Cottage. Markle and Harry recently renewed a lease there, and several relatives stopped by for her big day, including Princess Anne’s children Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips as well as their spouses and children.
