The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in the UK for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, which also coincided with their daughter Lilibet’s first birthday and her first meeting with her great-grandmother
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Queen Elizabeth on the Palace balcony(Image: Getty Images)
The late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee wasn’t merely a landmark occasion for the monarchy – as it was also a significant moment for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. While the nation raised a glass to Her Majesty’s 70-year reign in June 2022, the Sussexes were marking a family milestone: presenting their daughter, Princess Lilibet, to her great-grandmother for the very first time.
Lilibet – named after the Queen’s childhood nickname – was in Britain with her parents for the celebrations, which also fell on her first birthday. To commemorate the day, Harry and Meghan threw a laid-back garden party at Frogmore Cottage, featuring face painting and family moments in the Windsor sunshine.
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Harry and Meghan attended the celebrations for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022(Image: Getty Images)
However, according to reports at the time, one birthday request went unfulfilled, and it concerned the Queen herself. The Sun reported that Harry and Meghan were hoping to have a photographer present to document the poignant moment when the Queen met her great-granddaughter.
Yet the request was firmly declined. “Harry and Meghan wanted their photographer to capture the moment Lilibet met the Queen. But they were told no chance. It was a private family meeting,” an unnamed insider revealed.
The reasoning behind the refusal? Palace officials were reportedly concerned that any photographs could find their way to American broadcasters.
According to the same insider: “There were fears any photos of the Queen and Lilibet taken by the couple’s photographer would be shared by them with US telly networks.”
Queen Elizabeth refused Harry and Meghan’s request for a photographer at a private meeting(Image: Getty)
In his memoir Spare, Harry candidly revealed how deeply he treasured that encounter between his children and the Queen – particularly with hindsight, following her passing later that year.
Recalling the poignant moment, he wrote: “Archie making his deep bows, his baby sister Lilibet cuddling the monarch’s shins. Sweetest children, Granny said, sounding bemused. She’d expected them to be a bit more … American, I think? Meaning in her mind, more rambunctious.”
Although the Sussexes have kept much of what happened during that meeting under wraps, fresh details emerged through legal proceedings involving Prince Harry and Daily Mail publishers, Associated News Limited.
Meghan with daughter Princess Lilibet (Image: meghan/instagram)
During a summary judgment in his libel case, a letter written by the Queen’s private secretary was brought to light – revealing the monarch’s continued concern for Harry and his family, even after they stepped away from royal duties.
“You will understand well that ensuring that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain safe is of paramount importance to Her Majesty and her family,” the letter stated. It went on to stress: “Given the duke’s public profile by virtue of being born into the royal family, his military service, the duchess’s own independent profile and the well-documented history of targeting of the Sussex family by extremists, it is imperative that the family continues to be provided with effective security.”
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