She's five years old, red-haired, barefoot in the sunshine — and quite possibly the most quietly watched little girl in the world. Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor celebrated her birthday on 4 June, and her proud parents made sure the world knew about it.
'Our Dream Girl'
Meghan Markle took to Instagram to share two new photographs of her daughter to mark the milestone. In the first, Lilibet is cradled in Prince Harry's arms, her long red hair falling across her face as Harry gazes at her adoringly. Meghan stands beside him, arm on his shoulder, both parents smiling at their little girl.
"Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili," Meghan wrote in the caption, followed by a white heart emoji.
The second image is a quietly beautiful shot of the young princess standing barefoot on the grass, wearing a summer dress and reaching out to touch the blue-purple flowers of an agapanthus — known commonly as Lily of the Nile or African Lily. It's a detail that feels almost too perfect for a child nicknamed Lili.
Just weeks earlier, Meghan had shared another glimpse of her daughter on Instagram, referring to Lilibet as 'Mama's little helper' in a sweet snap taken in what appeared to be a walk-in wardrobe, where the duchess was trying on a coat while Lili crouched nearby. It painted a picture of an ordinary — if glamorous — family life far from the cameras of royal engagements.
A Royal Title That Wasn't Always Guaranteed
Lilibet was born on 4 June 2021 in the United States and was christened Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor — a name honouring both Queen Elizabeth II's childhood nickname and the children's late grandmother, Princess Diana. However, she wasn't automatically entitled to her princess title at birth. Under rules established by King George V in 1917, her status only changed when King Charles acceded to the throne. Harry and Meghan formally began using the titles of prince and princess for both Archie and Lilibet following her christening in 2023, after correspondence with the King on the matter.
Archie, now six, is two years older than his sister — making this a busy birthday season in the Sussex household.
The Family Reunion Harry Is Hoping For
Behind the birthday joy lies a more complicated family picture. According to reports, Harry is hoping that the King might invite the Sussex family to Sandringham this summer — a move that could, in theory, allow him to bring Meghan and the children to the UK without the security concerns that have long kept them away.
Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020, and with that came the loss of his Metropolitan Police protection. He has been vocal about his belief that it would be unsafe to bring his family to the UK without armed police cover — a legal battle over that very issue is still ongoing. Meghan herself has not set foot on British soil since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in September 2022.
The situation is particularly poignant when it comes to the children. Archie and Lilibet are reported not to have seen their grandfather, King Charles, in over four years. Harry has seen his father just twice in two years — most recently for a meeting of under an hour at Clarence House in September last year.
A Sandringham visit, away from the formality of London and with private security potentially more easily arranged, is seen by those close to Harry as a more realistic setting for a family reunion than a state occasion. Whether that invitation comes remains to be seen.
Life in California — and What's Next for the Sussexes
Meanwhile, life continues at pace for the Duke and Duchess. Last month, Archewell Productions — their Netflix-aligned production company — announced it is developing a feature film based on No Way Out, the book by Major Adam Jowett about British troops under siege during the Afghanistan war. The project marks a notable step for their content output, following the renegotiation of their Netflix deal last year from a broader contract to a 'first look deal', which gives the streaming giant first refusal on new projects.
In April, the couple completed a four-day private visit to Australia's east coast, taking in Indigenous culture, sport, charitable causes and a stop at the Australian War Memorial — a trip that had echoes of a royal tour, even if the Sussexes' reception was mixed.
For now, though, it's all about Lili — the little girl in the garden, barefoot among the flowers, turning five.
