Queen, Prince William and Kate release b’day message for Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet

The Queen, Prince William and Kate have released sweet birthday messages for Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet, who is turning one.

The Queen has wished her namesake great-granddaughter Lilibet a “very happy birthday” after meeting her for the first time this week.

Little Lilibet, named after the monarch‘s own childhood nickname, is in the UK for the first time in her life amid the Platinum Jubilee celebrations as she turns one.

And while she and brother Archie, three, have not been seen in public, it’s understood the Queen, 96, finally got the chance to meet Meghan and Harry’s little girl as they returned to Britain to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, The Sun reported.

Her Majesty on Saturday wished her great-granddaughter happy birthday as she turned one, with the family expected to celebrate the milestone privately.

No pictures have been released of Archie and Lilibet since they touched down in the UK earlier this week.

In a tweet, the monarch sent her well wishes to the royal tot alongside a balloon emoji.

It reads: “Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!”

Lilibet‘s uncle and aunt Prince William and Kate Middleton also shared a message on the platform, which said: “Wishing a very happy birthday to Lilibet, turning one today!”

And Prince Charles and wife Camilla wrote: “Wishing Lilibet a very happy 1st birthday today!”

🎈Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 4, 2022

Wishing a very happy birthday to Lilibet, turning one today! 🎈

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 4, 2022

Wishing Lilibet a very happy 1st birthday today! 🎂

— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) June 4, 2022

It comes after The Sun revealed the Queen had met her great-granddaughter Lilibet before her birthday – but the tot had not yet been pictured.

The family-of-four have been staying at Frogmore Cottage which just is a ten-minute walk from the Queen’s private apartments at Windsor Castle.

But the Queen, 96, has now been introduced to baby Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor – who was controversially named last June in her honour.

It is not clear when Lilibet met Lilibet but the Sussexes arrived at noon on Wednesday while the Queen was at her apartments, Harry and Meghan also travelled back to Frogmore on Friday afternoon following a service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

And the couple opted out of a reception at the Guildhall in London after the St Paul’s thanksgiving service to head back to Windsor where the Queen was resting.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Archie and Lilibet in their 2021 Christmas Card. Picture: Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Lilibet turns one on Saturday and royal commentator Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom, said Harry and Meghan will spend the day in Windsor together privately as a family.

Scobie told BBC breakfast this week that people shouldn’t expect “some sort of big birthday extravagant event” for the soon-to-be one-year-old’s celebrations – nor should they anticipate any photos.

He said: “From what I‘m told, we shouldn’t expect anything.

“Those moments with Lilibet are very much private between them and the Queen and of course we know how much she’s been looking forward to it.

“They’ve been held back by a pandemic. And so this really was the first time.”

Another sharp exit

It comes after Harry and Meghan made another sharp exit as they snubbed a family Jubilee event on Friday.

The US-based pair dashed from the Queen’s thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral rather than join other royals and VIPs at a reception.

They were whisked back to Windsor after keeping their distance from Wills and Kate, during the frosty service.

The couple were greeted with some boos and cheers from crowds outside St Paul’s as they arrived separately to William and Kate.

The Sussexes then sat in the second row more than 25ft across the aisle from the Cambridges, Charles and Camilla who got front-row positions as working royals.

Her Majesty missed the service after experiencing some “discomfort” during Thursday‘s celebrations.

Prince William, his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and father Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrive at St Paul's cathedral. Picture: Richard Pohle/Getty Images

‘Very tiring’

Buckingham Palace also confirmed the Queen will miss the Epsom Derby on Saturday because of her ongoing health issues.

The monarch, who has been experiencing episodic mobility problems, will not attend the major sporting event and is likely to watch the race on television at Windsor Castle.

Kate revealed the Queen was “fine” but had found the first day of the celebrations ”very tiring”.

The monarch had watched Trooping the Colour as she beamed alongside her family on the balcony – as cheeky Prince Louis kept her company.

At a reception at London‘s Guildhall on Friday, the Duchess of Cambridge is said to have told an attendee the Queen is “fine” but had found the day ”very tiring”.

Gill Smallwood, from Bolton spoke, with Kate and asked how the Queen was doing.

Ms Smallwood said: “She (Kate) said ‘yes, she was fine, it was just very tiring yesterday, and she (the Queen) had had a lovely, lovely time’.”

The passionate horse lover, who has only missed the Derby four times in 75 years, previously ensured three of her best horses could compete in the race on her Jubilee — giving her the best chance yet of bagging the trophy.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on June 2. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

This article first appeared on The Sun and has been republished here with permission 

Originally published as Queen, Prince William and Kate release b’day message for Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet