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Queen Elizabeth’s secret “anger” at Lilibet’s name

<p dir="ltr">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to name their daughter Lilibet allegedly greatly “angered” the late Queen Elizabeth, according to an explosive new book. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the new biography <em>Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story</em>, by veteran royal journalist Robert Hardman, a source close to the royal family shared the secret anger about the Sussexes using Her Majesty’s childhood nickname for their child. </p> <p dir="ltr">The affectionate moniker was used frequently during the late Queen’s childhood, after it emerged from her own mispronunciation of her name as a child. </p> <p dir="ltr">The nickname was used only by her late parents, her sister Princess Margaret, husband Prince Philip, and closest inner circle.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meghan Markle gave birth to her daughter in June 2021, naming her Lilibet Diana, in tribute to both the Queen and to Prince Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. </p> <p dir="ltr">According to the explosive new book, a senior palace source described the late monarch as being “as angry as I’d ever seen her” when the couple said in a statement she’d approved the use of the name for their second child. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the wake of the new claims, the Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English added that aides told her at the time that the Queen had felt her name had been “taken”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“‘I don’t own the palaces, I don’t own the paintings, the only thing I own is my name. And now they’ve taken that,” they reportedly told her.</p> <p dir="ltr">English added that she’d been told the Queen was “taken aback” when Harry informed her of his intention with the name, but “didn’t feel, given the circumstances, she could say no”, describing it as “being pushed into an impossible corner.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The claims of the Queen’s disappointment first began to swirl shortly after Lilibet’s birth, but a law firm representing Harry and Meghan quickly fired off a statement to news organisations, suggesting the claim was false and defamatory.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement – in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called,” the message read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In the days after Lilibet’s birth, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying that the Queen and other senior royals were “delighted with the news.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

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Meghan and Lilibet spotted in rare outing

<p dir="ltr">There has been a rare sighting of Meghan Markle and her daughter, Princess Lilibet, in California.</p> <p dir="ltr">The royal mother-daughter duo were spotted close to their home in Montecito, California, as they joined revellers to celebrate the Fourth of July in a parade.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Harry and Prince Archie, four, were also in attendance but in the short clip shared on social media, they are obscured by other members of the crowd watching the event.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video of the royal sighting was posted by a local hotel, which shows an Independence Day parade featuring a display of vintage and modern cars, along with local ambulances and fire trucks, making its way from the San Ysidro Road towards East Valley.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuSz3y2g1Ok/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuSz3y2g1Ok/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rosewood Miramar Beach (@rosewoodmiramarbeach)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Meghan can be seen crouching on the ground with her arms around Lilibet, who is waving an American flag pinwheel, as they both wave to the people in the parade.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Harry was also spotted, dressed in casual wear, carrying Lilibet through the crowd.</p> <p dir="ltr">The rare sighting comes just days after the Sussexes continue to sit out official royal events, as King Charles celebrated his <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-trouble/not-my-king-second-coronation-marred-by-protestors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second coronation</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">King Charles celebrated his coronation a second time during a ceremony in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, just two months after being crowned King in London.</p> <p dir="ltr">The monarch was joined by Queen Camilla, and Prince and Princess of Wales, who are known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, for a Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication held in his honour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite the grand and emotional service, the ceremony was slightly marred by anti-monarch protestors outside.</p> <p dir="ltr">The protestors stood chanting "not my King" for hours on end so loudly, that the voices could be heard from inside the church during the quieter moments of the ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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Harry and Meghan finally confirm their kids’ titles

<p>Harry and Meghan have reportedly confirmed the royal titles of their children, Archie and Lilibet, in a statement.</p> <p>The pair also revealed that young Lilibet had been christened in a quiet ceremony at home in California, and it was one glaring detail that caught the attention of eagle-eyed readers. </p> <p>“Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor,” a statement to <em>People </em>read. </p> <p>The same publication reported that the ceremony was attended by around 20 to 30 people, and that Meghan’s mother - Doria Ragland - and actor Tyler Perry - who is Lilibet’s godfather - were there. The British royals, despite the Sussexes having “extended an invite to King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton” did not attend. </p> <p>Buckingham Palace later confirmed that the line of succession list on its website would be updated to reflect this. </p> <p>Archie and Lilibet had been awarded the title of prince and princess when Harry’s father, King Charles III, had inherited the throne. However, Buckingham Palace’s website had listed them as “master” and “miss” respectively, and their true titles had remained a widely debated issue upon the Duke and Duchess’ move from the United Kingdom to the United States.</p> <p>And in 2021, during an interview with Oprah, Meghan even claimed that the palace “didn’t want him [Archie] to become a prince.” </p> <p>She went on to explain that while the titles weren’t important to her, through her pregnancy she and Harry had the same concerns for their son should he not be recognised as a prince.</p> <p>And before Archie’s birth, he had allegedly been offered the courtesy title of ‘Earl of Dumbarton’, but his parents turned it down.</p> <p>“They didn’t like the idea of Archie being called the Earl of Dumbarton,” a source told<em> The Telegraph</em> at the time, “because it began with the word ‘dumb’ [and] they were worried about how that might look.” </p> <p>Under rules established by King George V in 1917, prince or princess was a title only given to the monarch’s grandchildren through the male line, and one other family member - but not the great grandchildren. The only other family member in the direct line of succession entitled to the title is the eldest great grandson. </p> <p>George, William and Kate’s eldest, holds the title of prince through this ruling. And in 2012, the late queen changed the rules so that the couples’ youngest children, Charlotte and Louis, might also carry the titles of princess and prince. </p> <p>However, upon Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, Archie and Lilibet became the acting monarch’s grandchildren, and questions over what titles they would bear began anew. </p> <p>Questions that have now, apparently, been answered. </p> <p><em>Images: Netflix </em></p>

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Lilibet's adorable first birthday cake revealed

<p>The baker who made the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding cake has revealed a new snap of a 244 floral two-tier strawberry buttercream cake, which was baked fresh for Lilibet’s first birthday.</p> <p>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoyed the summer sunshine and hosted a “relaxed garden party” in June 2022 for their daughter's first birthday in the Windsor estate. The gathering included cake, balloons, party games and picnic snacks.</p> <p>Claire Ptak, the East London baker who made the couples wedding cake in 2018, created other baked goods for the low-key garden party including the cake that was a two tier seasonal strawberry buttercream.</p> <p>She shared a snap of the creation on Instagram, as a part of the 2022 highlights reel saying: “Our 2022 Greatest Hits. Thank you to all our customers and supporters over the last year for inspiring such beautiful work.”</p> <p>"Thank you to my incredible team for executing it all with so much fun, humour and passion."</p> <p>In the snap, she can be seen placing a pink peonie onto the cake, which featured the youngster's name. It was complete with an Amalfi lemon and elderflower filling and covered in a light buttercream.</p> <p>On the bakery's website, the cake is described as having "three layers of vanilla sponge drizzled with elderflower syrup and filled with Amalfi lemon curd."</p> <p>The top and sides of the cake are "iced with a buttercream scented with the juice and zest of lemons from the Amalfi coast, and decorated with chopped candied Amalfi lemon peel."</p> <p>At the time, Claire who owns the bakery and carefully designed the incredible cake - wrote on the brand's Instagram: "It was an absolute pleasure to make this special cake last week for Lilibet’s birthday. Wishing her a very happy year ahead!”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Meghan Markle shares major milestone for Lilibet

<p>Meghan Markle has shared her daughter Lilibet's latest milestone in the most recent episode of the <em>Archetypes</em> podcast. </p> <p>Speaking with actress Pamela Adlon, the Duchess of Sussex said her days have become "more chaotic" ever since one-year-old Liliet started walking. </p> <p>"Lili has just started walking!" she said proudly. </p> <p>"She's a year and a couple of months old and Archie is just over three years old," Meghan said.</p> <p>"Oh, I'm in the thick of it, toddling."</p> <p>She went on to explain how mornings in the Sussex home are always a "rush", but she relishes in the madness of it all and insists on making breakfast each morning. </p> <p>"I'm sure it'll only get more chaotic as they get older," she said.</p> <p>"For me, it's, you know, both monitors on for the kids to hear them. Always up with Lili, get her downstairs, then a half hour later, Archie's up."</p> <p>"I start doing his lunchbox right before he's up while I have her, getting her a little nibble. My husband's helping me get him downstairs."</p> <p> </p> <p>"I make breakfast for all three of them. It's very important to me. I love doing it - to me, it just feels like the greatest way to start the morning."</p> <p>The Duchess of Sussex admitted it can feel like a "whirlwind" as she feeds their three dogs – Guy, Pula and Mia – and gets Archie off to school but praises Prince Harry for being a "partner" in parenting.</p> <p>As Meghan and her guest spoke about the pressures of motherhood, she said becoming a mother changed her outlook on everything, and how she wants to be a strong role model for her kids.</p> <p>"I first just had Archie, now I'm a mum of a daughter," she said while speaking to Adlon.</p> <p>"And whether I thought it was going to happen or not, it did. I see the world differently through how she is going to see the world and how she is going to look at certain women as role models.</p> <p>"And when I look at a lot of the women that I'm speaking to on this show, you included, I want her to understand that it is not just a box you have to fit into, but you get to be a full-fledged, interesting, curious, kind, strong, all the things, human being. But you also get to be a woman with a voice."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

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Prince Harry shares rare update on Archie and Lilibet

<p>Prince Harry has surprised the winners of the WellChild Awards with a spontaneous video call, in which he shared a rare update on his children.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were meant to attend the awards in person on September 8th but that afternoon the Queen's health dramatically declined, forcing Harry to make the dash to Balmoral Castle.</p> <p>But now, Harry has spoken to winners of the awards and their families from his home in Montecito about the challenges they have been facing.</p> <p>Harry spoke with Henry Waines, who spent the first 15 months of his life in hospital and has now won the Inspirational Child award in the four to seven category.</p> <p>The pair joked about their shared name in a sweet exchange.</p> <p>He said, "My name is Henry. Well everyone calls me Harry. I have no idea why."</p> <p>"You sound just like my son Archie really. The same little squeaky voice. I love it."</p> <p>The four-year-old then asked Prince Harry about his two children.</p> <p>"They're doing great – Archie is very, very busy and Lili is learning to use her voice, which is great."</p> <p>Speaking with 13-year-old Isabelle Delaney, the duke praised her assistance dog, a Labradoodle called Hope, for helping her get through her tough times.</p> <p>"We all need a dog that keeps us calm," Prince Harry said.</p> <p>"I've got three in this house now, so we basically have five children. I've got a black Labrador called Pula, a rescue beagle called Guy, and we got another rescue beagle called Mia."</p> <p>"And between the three of them, they charge around chasing squirrels and causing all sorts of problems to us every single day.</p> <p>"But they are also emotional support dogs, 100 per cent, when they're behaving."</p> <p>Throughout the video call some of the parents and children sent their condolences to Prince Harry following the death of his 96-year-old grandmother.</p> <p>Harry attempted sign language with 10-year-old Shakeerah Crowther, a survivor of a rare brain infection.</p> <p>She signed to Harry, "I'm sorry about your grandmother the Queen."</p> <p>Evelyn Rodger, a children's hospice nurse whose role was funded by the Princess Diana memorial fund, said the late monarch would be "proud".</p> <p>She told Harry, "I think your mum would be very proud of what that money has achieved.</p> <p>"And I also think as a mum she'd be very proud of you, Harry."</p> <p>Harry replied, "That's very sweet, thank you."</p> <p>The WellChild Awards were an important part of Harry and Meghan's life as working royals.</p> <p>They attended the awards in 2018 and 2019, which celebrates the inspirational qualities of the UK's seriously ill children and young people, along with those who go that extra mile to make a difference to their lives.</p> <p><em>Image credits: YouTube</em></p>

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Archie and Lilibet snubbed from royal tradition

<p>The children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will reportedly not be called “His Royal Highness” or “Her Royal Highness”.</p> <p>With King Charles III agreeing to bestow the titles of “Prince” and “Princess” on Archie, 3 and Lilibet, 1, he has refused to allow them to be known as HRH.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess are allegedly furious over the snub, after they were stripped of “HRH” after moving to the US in 2020.</p> <p>So, why does the title matter? King George V declared in 1917 that both sons and daughters of the ruling monarch, as well as grandchildren from the sovereign’s male line, were entitled to be called HRH (His or Her Royal Highness).</p> <p>Queen Elizabeth II amended the rule in 2012, declaring all children of the Prince of Wales’ eldest son (Prince William) would be entitled to the HRH titles. The change never mentioned Charles’ younger children, leaving Harry in a grey area.</p> <p>The announcement was made before Kate Middleton and William had their first child, meaning their daughter would also be granted the title.</p> <p>An “HRH” title gives access to a salary as a working royal, and entitles one to official protection and security. It also means people are supposed to bow or curtsy when an HRH approaches.</p> <p>The title of HRH is currently held by King Charles III; Queen Consort Camilla; Princess Anne; Prince Edward; Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Prince William; Princess Kate; their three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte; and Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.</p> <p>Harry and Meghan believe their children have a right to the title, but it is becoming more than likely they won’t receive it.</p> <p>Archie and Lilibet are currently called “Master” and “Miss,” and are expected to take the “Prince” and “Princess” titles without the HRH.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Why The Queen refused official photos with baby Lilibet

<p>The Queen met Harry and Meghan’s baby daughter Lilibet for the first time when the couple visited the UK for Platinum Jubilee celebrations.</p> <p>However, if royal watchers were hoping an adorable official photo of the occasion would be released, they were sorely disappointed.</p> <p>The Queen met the one-year-old at Windsor Castle the day before the Trooping the Colour event, but did not allow photographers to be present.</p> <p>Speculation mounted that the 96-year-old monarch did not want photographs of herself in a frail state to be “leaked” to the media, although others thought the Queen did not want to see “unauthorised” images of the meeting popping up on US television networks.</p> <p>It appears the truth might be as simple as Queen Elizabeth suffering from an eye complaint and had a significantly bloodshot eye on the day she met her granddaughter for the first time.</p> <p>Buckingham Palace is keen to carefully control how Queen Elizabeth appears to the public as rumours swirl about her health and apparent frailty.</p> <p>It’s understood Prince Harry wanted to bring his own photographer to capture the occasion, but the Queen said no.</p> <p>Harry is reportedly still keen to get an official picture of the pair together.</p> <p>“The Duke is thought to have expressed a desire to get an official photograph of the two Lilibets together at some point in the future,” royal commentator Camilla Tominey shared.</p> <p>Lilibet was Queen Elizabeth’s childhood nickname.</p> <p>In lieu of a photograph with the Queen being made public, the Sussexes released an adorable official portrait of Lilibet for her first birthday.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

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Prince Charles' first meeting with granddaughter Lilibet was "very emotional"

<p>During the celebrations of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Prince Charles was often spotted in grandpa mode with Prince William and Kate's three children. </p> <p>According to royal aides, the Duke of Wales also spent quality time with his other grandkids, Archie and Lilibet, as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited the UK for the milestone celebrations. </p> <p>One of Prince Charles' closest royal aides said the 73-year-old's first meeting with his one-year-old granddaughter was "very emotional".</p> <p>"It was a fantastic visit and of course the Prince was delighted to see his grandson and meet his granddaughter for the first time," the source told UK reporters.</p> <p>"It was fantastic to see them. It was wonderful to have them back in Britain, the Prince [Charles] and the Duchess [of Cornwall] were absolutely thrilled to see them," they added of seeing the Sussexes.</p> <p>"The Prince of course hasn't seen his grandson Archie for a bit of time and so it was very, very, very special to have some time with him. He hadn't met Lilibet, his granddaughter, and so to meet her for the first time was I think very emotional, a very wonderful thing."</p> <p>Lilibet, who was born in Los Angeles on June 4th 2021, also met the Queen, her namesake, during the Sussexes first trip to the UK in some time. </p> <p>It is believed the Lilibet was introduce to Her Majesty on June 2nd following the Trooping the Colour event to kick off the four-day celebrations. </p> <p>Lili also celebrated her first birthday during her first visit to the UK, with photos from a party at Frogmore Cottage being released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their return to the US after the short trip.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram </em></p>

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Finally! New pics of Lilibet on her 1st birthday

<p dir="ltr">Harry and Meghan have finally released a photo of the first portrait of their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor after celebrating her first birthday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared the photo of Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor that was taken at her first birthday party in the UK during Platinum Jubilee celebrations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lilibet appears to be the splitting image of Harry, taking his red hair and is seen smiling from ear-to-ear in her parent’s garden at their UK residence, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.</p> <p dir="ltr">Photographer Misan Harriman took the “candid, spontaneous photograph” as close family and friends celebrated Lilibet’s first birthday on June 4. </p> <p dir="ltr">A second photo was released from the day showing the Duchess holding baby Lilibet alongside Mr Harriman's wife and their children.</p> <p dir="ltr">Misan shared the heartwarming photos to Twitter along with the caption: It was such a privilege to celebrate the 1st birthday of Lilibet with my family and hers! Joy and face painting all around.</p> <p dir="ltr">The cake was also baked by Claire Ptak, who also created the couple’s wedding cake back in 2018. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Duke and Duchess requested donations to the World Central Kitchen instead of gifts. They raised $US100,000 ($A139,000).</p> <p dir="ltr">This is not the first time Mr Harriman has captured memorable moments for the Duke and Duchess. </p> <p dir="ltr">He previously photographed Harry and Meghan when they announced they were expecting their second child, now Lilibet, on Valentine’s Day in 2021. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Misan Harriman/Twitter</em></p>

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Lilibet and Queen Elizabeth II to meet for first time

<p dir="ltr">Queen Elizabeth II is expected to meet her great-granddaughter Lilibet for the very first time at her upcoming Platinum Jubilee celebrations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lilibet, whose name is a nickname of the monarch’s, will be travelling to the UK with her brother Archie, and their parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, per <em><a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/prince-harry-meghan-markle-daughter-lilibet-could-meet-queen-elizabeth-first-birthday-platinum-jubilee/b42887c7-db1c-4188-b874-55e0949c25aa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9Honey</a></em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The visit will be the first time the couple will reunite with the royal family - aside from the Queen and Prince Charles - since they stepped down from their senior roles in 2020, having met the monarch and future king during a secret visit last month.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though it’s still unclear which events the couple will attend, it’s expected they will appear at a few across the Jubilee holiday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, the Queen herself will only confirm her attendance at several events on the day of or a few hours prior, though she is expected to be at Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace.</p> <p dir="ltr">Harry and Meghan will also be joining Prince Andrew in not standing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace since they are no longer working royals.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Sussexes, who will be reuniting with the Queen at Friday’s Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s, are believed to be staying at Frogmore Cottage while in the UK, with Princess Eugenie and her family believed to be living there at the moment.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a89759bf-7fff-8a01-c856-8bd0e8d1f929"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Alexi Lubomirski/Duke and Duchess of Sussex</em></p>

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Prince Harry shares major Lilibet milestone

<p>Prince Harry has revealed that 10-month-old Lilibet has taken her first steps. </p> <p>In an exclusive interview with <a href="https://people.com/royals/prince-harry-reveals-lili-took-first-steps/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a>, the Duke of Sussex said his daughter "is trying to keep up with her big brother Archie" and that he is a very "proud papa".</p> <p>While on his trip to The Hague for the Invictus Games, Harry's children are never far from his mind as he said he "can't wait" to one day bring his kids to the Games, and that Archie, who is almost 3-years-old, is already excited at the prospect. </p> <div> <p>"I showed Archie a video of wheelchair basketball and rugby from the Invictus Games in Sydney, and he absolutely loved it," Harry says. </p> </div> <div class="paragraph" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <p>"I showed him how some were missing legs and explained that some had invisible injuries, too," he continued. "Not because he asked, but because I wanted to tell him. Kids understand so much, and to see it through his eyes was amazing because it's so unfiltered and honest."</p> <p>Since founding the Invictus Games in 2014, Harry's life as changed drastically, mainly with the adventure of fatherhood. </p> <p>"Being a dad certainly adds another emotional layer to it," says Harry. "When I was in the Army, I promised myself I would be out before having a wife and kids, because I couldn't imagine the heartache of being apart for so long during deployment, the risk of possibly getting injured, and the reality that my family's lives could be changed forever if that happened."</p> <p>He adds, "Every member of the Invictus community has experienced varying degrees of these things. I have tremendous respect for what they and their families sacrifice in the name of service."</p> <p>At the opening ceremony of the games on Saturday, he told the crowd of his son's future career aspirations and how he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father.</p> <div> <p>"When I talk to my son Archie about what he wants to be when he grows up, some days it's an astronaut, other days it's a pilot — a helicopter pilot obviously" Harry said with a laugh.</p> </div> <div> <p>"But what I remind him is that no matter what you want to be when you grow up, it's your character that matters most, and nothing would make his mum and me prouder than to see him have the character of what we see before us today," he continued.</p> <div> <p>"To grow up in a better world," Prince Harry replied. "To grow up in a fairer world, a safer world, a more equal world. It's not going to be easy, but I will never, ever, ever rest until I as a parent have at least tried to make the world a better place for them. Because it is our responsibility that the world is the way that it is now. I don't think we should be bringing children into the world unless we are going to make that commitment to make it better for them."</p> </div> <div> <p>He added, "We cannot steal your future."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p> </div> </div> </div>

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Harry and Meghan’s Christmas card features first photo of Lilibet

<p dir="ltr">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released their virtual Christmas card, and it comes with a delightful surprise for the holidays: the first photo of daughter Lilibet.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born in June, but no photos of her have been released by the family, until now. In the family photo that graces the virtual greeting, Meghan is holding Lilibet up in the air as the entire family smiles and laughs together, Archie sitting on Harry’s lap.</p> <p dir="ltr">The photo was taken by Alexi Lubomirski at the couple’s Santa Barbara home during the summer, meaning Lilibet is a newborn in the photos. Lubomirski also shot the couple’s engagement photos in 2017 and their official wedding photos in 2018.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sharing the photo to Instagram on Thursday, Lubomirski wrote, “This is one of those rare and special projects, that one is fortunate enough to be a part of. To be able to continue the story of this family whom I first photographed as an engaged couple, then on the day of their wedding, as a married couple and now seeing their love manifest into two beautiful children, has been a delightful honour.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CX1ANa6OTCU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CX1ANa6OTCU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Alexi Lubomirski (@alexilubomirski)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Anyone who has seen my #AllLoveSeries, will know that one of the greatest joys I receive from photography, is when I am able to photograph "love" in some form or another. To be trusted by your subjects enough, to open themselves up and have their connection documented and translated into an image, is one of the greatest gifts a photographer can have.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This day with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was one such joyous experience, and one that I feel extremely privileged to have been invited to capture.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The family’s Christmas card reads, "This year, 2021, we welcomed our daughter, Lilibet, to the world. Archie made us a 'Mama' and a 'Papa', and Lili made us a family. As we look forward to 2022, we have made donations on your behalf to several organisations that honour and protect families — from those being relocated from Afghanistan, to American families in need of paid parental leave: Team Rubicon, Welcome.US, Human First Coalition, Humanity Crew &amp; Paid Leave For All, PL+US Marshall Plan for Mums.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Wishing you a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year, from our family to yours!"</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846556/https___prodstatic9net.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/933e518d25504b4c80c0ec5b47c3582e" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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Why Elizabeth, Charles and Camilla may miss Lilibet Diana's christening

<p dir="ltr">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first daughter, Lilibet Diana, named for Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, is five months old and hasn’t been christened yet, which prompted speculation from royal watchers on where and when a christening would eventually take place.</p> <p dir="ltr">This speculation prompted a spokesperson for the family to say yesterday that plans for the christening “have not been finalised”. A palace insider said there would not be a christening in the UK.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to<span> </span><em>The Sun,<span> </span></em>author and editor of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward that if the christening took place in the United States, where Harry and Meghan now live, much of Harry’s immediate family would be absent.</p> <p dir="ltr">The reason key members of the Royal Family, including great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth, grandparents Prince Charles and Camilla and uncle Prince Charles and aunt Kate may miss Lilibet’s christening is that their schedules simply wouldn’t allow for it.</p> <p dir="ltr">Seward said, "I don't think any members of the immediate Royal Family would have time [to fly over], their schedules are organised six months in advance.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When the couple’s first child, Archie, was christened at Windsor Castle in 2019, the Queen and Prince Philip did not attend as they were in Sandringham. The Queen also did not attend the christening of William and Kate’s youngest child, Prince Louis.</p> <p dir="ltr">It has been reported that Lilibet could be baptised into the Episcopal Church of the US, which is a member of the Anglican Communion. The Bishop who delivered the sermon at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018, Bishop Michael Curry, is the head of the Episcopal Church and could officiate.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Lilibet would not automatically be considered a member of the Church of England until she came to the UK and joined a local congregation. Seward said Harry and Meghan could baptise their daughter privately at Windsor Castle, which is what they did with Archie.</p> <p dir="ltr">Potential godparents that have been suggested by royal watchers include Princess Eugenie, Zara and Mike Tindall, or even Oprah Winfrey. Seward said the couple would choose someone particularly close to them, because, "with godparents you usually want someone who you've known all your life."</p> <p dir="ltr">Meghan herself was baptised into the church ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: NDZ/Star Max/GC Images/Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Harry and Meghan rumoured to return to Windsor for Lilibet's christening

<p>There are new reports saying that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could be heading to Windsor to get baby girl Lilibet baptised at Windsor Castle.</p> <p>The pair want the Queen to be among guests, but are aware the situation "will be definitely awkward".</p> <p>"Meghan isn't flavour of the month with the family," the Mirrors' royal editor Russel Myers explained.</p> <p>"Certainly, the family have always said they will be much-loved members of the family.</p> <p>"However, we're still talking about the fallout of the Oprah Winfrey interview, Emmy or no Emmy nomination.</p> <p>"The tensions are still running very, very high within the family, indeed."</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxNPb_9B0fn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxNPb_9B0fn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>At the time of writing, it is just a rumour and nothing has been confirmed by the royal couple themselves, but considering brother Archie was baptised there in 2019, the rumour isn't without merit.</p> <p>Archie's baptism was a small affair, with just 25 guests in attendance and the full list was never made public.</p>

Family & Pets

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Harry and Meghan secretly purchased domain names for Lilibet before birth

<p>A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan have confirmed that the couple purchased the internet domain names "Lilibet Diana" and "Lili Diana" before their daughter's name was approved by Queen Elizabeth.</p> <p>A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they had purchased a "significant" number of domain names covering the different baby names they were soldiering, The Telegraph reports.</p> <p>After the admission, questions are being raised as to whether the couple asked for the Queen's approval for naming their child Lilibet, the monarch's own childhood nickname.</p> <p>The registering of several domain names suggest the couple had a Plan B if the Queen had not approved the name Lilibet Diana.</p> <p>The domain name lilibetdiana.com was registered in the US on June 4, The Telegraph reports.</p> <p>June 4 was the day baby Lilibet was born and two days before the announcement was made public.</p> <p>The domain name lilidiana.com was registered several days earlier on May 31 - indicating the baby girl’s name was well and truly settled on before her birth.</p> <p>It’s likely the domain names were bought to stop others from cashing in on the baby’s name, or to launch a foundation in her name later on.</p> <p>“Of course, as is often customary with public figures, a significant number of any potential names that were considered were purchased by their team to protect against the exploitation of the name once it was chosen and publicly shared," the spokesperson said.</p> <p>Lilbet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born at 11:40 am local time on June 4.</p>

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Meghan Markle appears in first interview since Lillibet’s birth

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meghan Markle has used her first interview since the birth of her and Prince Harry’s daughter, Lillibet Diana, to promote her new book </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Bench</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Duchess of Sussex spoke with NPR’s </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Weekend Edition Sunday: Picture This</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> radio show and revealed that the book was inspired by a gift she gave her husband for his first Father’s Day - a garden bench.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As most of us do, you go, what am I going to get them as a gift? And I thought I just wanted something sentimental and a place for him to have as a bit of a home base with our son,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 39-year-old said she made a plaque for the bench with a short poem she wrote on it, which sparked the initial idea for her book.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This is your bench, Where life will begin, For you and our son, Our baby, our kin,” it reads.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Bench</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> depicts different types of fathers and sons bonding over activities on or near a bench.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I really hope that people can see this as a love story that transcends the story of my family,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I often find, and especially in this past year, I think so many of us realised how much happens in the quiet.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was definitely moments like that, watching them from out of the window and watching [my husband] just, you know, rock him to sleep or carry him or, you know … those lived experiences, from my observation, are the things that I infused in this poem.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meghan also said her and Harry’s son Archie is a “voracious” reader and “loves” the book.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I knew our son would notice all of those elements, and he loves the book, which is great because he has a voracious appetite for books and constantly when we read him a boko he goes ‘again, again, again’.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“But now the fact he loves </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Bench</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and we can say ‘Mumm wrote this for you’ feels amazing,” the duchess said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meghan also shared that the book contains several personal and family details hidden throughout the book, including Princess Diana’s favourite flower and the Sussexes’ rescue chickens.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think you can find sweet little moments that we hid in there - of my favourite flower, even my husband’s mum’s favourite flower, forget-me-nots,” she said</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We wanted to make sure those were included in there. There are many, many special details and love that went into this book.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Duke of Sussex / Instagram</span></p>

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