Archie, Lilibet missing from William, Kate’s birthday tribute to Queen Elizabeth

Prince William and Kate Middleton have left Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children out of their birthday tribute to the late Queen.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Instagram tribute to Queen Elizabeth II did not include Prince Archie or Princess Lilibet. Picture: AFP.

An unseen picture of Queen Elizabeth II with her great grandchildren taken by the Princess of Wales has been shared on the day she would have turned 97.

But there are some notable absentees.

The image posted on Instagram by Kensington Palace shows the proud great-grandma with the Wales'’ children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to mark what would have been the late monarch’s birthday on Friday.

Also included in the picture is Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, James, Earl of Wessex, Lena Tindall, Isla Phillips, Mia Tindall, Lucas Tindall and Savannah Phillips.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s kids, Prince Archie, three, and Princess Lilibet, one, – who were in the US when the picture was taken – do not appear in the snap taken at Balmoral in August, shortly before the queen died.

“Today would have been Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 97th birthday,” the Prince and Princess of Wales captioned the never-before-seen throwback snap taken by Catherine.

“This photograph — showing her with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren — was taken at Balmoral last summer.”

Queen Elizabeth had eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren at the time of her death.

One of the Wales’ Instagram followers pointed out, “Harry’s children could have been in this too. … I bet he regrets for his children’s lasting memories”.

Several other social media users inquired about Archie and Lilibet, while others noted that Princess Eugenie’s son, August, 2, and Princess Beatrice’s daughter, Sienna, 1, were also absent.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Instagram tribute to Queen Elizabeth II did not include Prince Archie or Princess Lilibet. Picture: AFP.

Harry and Meghan pictured with Archie and Lilibet. Picture: The Times

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reads her Speech at the House of Lords, in Westminster, in London, 06 November 2007. Picture: AFP.

It comes after Buckingham Palace revealed Prince Harry would be attending the King’s coronation alone next month.

“The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement earlier this month.

The royal family said on Friday the image was about remembering the Queen’s “life and legacy”.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, 63, paid a touching tribute to her former mother-in-law saying she misses her “more than words”.

She said: “Today would have been Her Late Majesty the Queen’s 97th birthday and I will spend the day thinking of her”.

“For over 70 years she was a constant, steadfast presence in our national life.

“For me, she was a wonderful mother-in-law, friend and Adviser. I miss her more than words.”

The Queen died in September 2022, three months after her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Originally published as Archie, Lilibet missing from William, Kate’s birthday tribute to Queen Elizabeth