The one face missing from the Jubilee gets a belated introduction to the public ...
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last night released the first full portrait of their daughter Lilibet to mark her first birthday on Saturday. The couple shared an image of the little girl, who is named after the Queen, which was taken in the grounds of their Windsor home as they returned to Britain for the Platinum Jubilee.
Dressed in a pale blue dress and wearing a white lace headband, Lilibet appears to have inherited her father’s ginger hair and has blue eyes. A previously released image, which featured on the Sussexes’ Christmas card last year, only showed her side profile.
The new image was taken by the Sussexes’ close friend, Misan Harriman, who later posted a second image on Twitter of “Lili” being carried by her mother, posing alongside his own family.
Wearing a cardigan, spotted socks and a clip in her hair, she appears to be happily chewing some party food, while her young friends sport lion face paint.
The images were released to the press just hours after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge posted unseen photographs of the four-day festivities in honour of the 96-year-old monarch.
The timing took royal watchers by surprise – not least as Harry and Meghan had kept such a low profile while in Britain – with the public not seeing Lilibet or her brother, Archie, three, all weekend.
A spokesman said the couple were “incredibly touched by the countless birthday wishes for their daughter” and revealed that friends and family gathered for “a casual, intimate backyard picnic at Frogmore Cottage” to mark her big day.
Claire Ptak who was responsible for creating Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake in 2018 made a special cake for the occasion from her Violet Bakery in East London.
The couple thanked “people around the world” who made donations amounting to more than $100,000 (£80,000) to the World Central Kitchen (WCK) in “Lili’s” honour. The organisation provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crisis.
They recently provided support in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two teacher were shot dead at the
‘From the crowds on the Mall to communities hosting parties, we hope you had a weekend to remember’
Robb Elementary School and in war torn Ukraine.
The Cambridges did not attend Lilibet’s birthday party because they were carrying out a royal engagement in Cardiff with Prince George, eight, and Princess Charlotte, seven on Saturday, while Prince Louis, four, remained at home.
It was their younger son who stole the show during the Platinum Jubilee with his boyish antics – and the Cambridges behind-the-scenes photographs confirmed Prince Louis’s enjoyment of the celebrations in honour of his great grandmother.
The Duke and Duchess released the images on their official social media accounts yesterday, complete with a personally written caption which read: “We all had an incredible time, especially Louis…” The couple added the “two eyes” emoji on the Twitter and Instagram posts, which is sometimes used in jest to denote moments that have created a bit of drama.
The four-year-old captured hearts when he was photographed covering his ears on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Thursday’s Trooping the Colour flypast.
Parents everywhere could then sympathise with the Duchess as she tried to keep the excitable youngster under control during Sunday’s Pageant when he put his hand over her mouth and stuck his tongue out.
His grandfather the Prince of Wales later placed him on his lap to keep him occupied as the parade snaked its way down The Mall, past the royal box.
Kensington Palace released 10 pictures altogether – including an image showing the Duchess, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Louis waiting at the palace steps for the Duke of Cambridge to ride back through the quadrangle to the ceremony on Horse Guards.
Another shows the couple attending a street party, where they chatted and posed for photographs with members of the public at the St Helen’s Church Jubilee Big Lunch in north Kensington.
“What a fantastic weekend of celebrations,” read the caption. “Seeing people across the nation coming together with family, friends and loved ones has been extremely special.
“Thank you to everyone who turned out to show their gratitude to the Queen and her inspiring 70 years of leadership. From the crowds on the Mall to communities hosting street parties up and down the country, we hope you had a weekend to remember.”