During the Platinum Jubilee, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave Lilibet to the Queen, but their request was vehemently rejected.
The late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee wasn’t just a milestone moment for the monarchy – it was also a special occasion for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. While the nation toasted Her Majesty’s 70-year reign in June 2022, the Sussexes were celebrating a family first: introducing their daughter, Princess Lilibet, to her great-grandmother for the very first time.
Lilibet – named after the Queen’s childhood nickname – was in the UK with her parents for the festivities, which also coincided with her first birthday. To mark the occasion, Harry and Meghan hosted a relaxed garden bash at Frogmore Cottage, complete with face painting and family vibes in the Windsor sunshine.
However, one birthday wish, according to the Queen herself, was not fulfilled, according to reports from the time. The couple wanted a photographer to be present to capture the heartfelt moment the Queen met her great-granddaughter, according to The Sun.
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However, it was vehemently rejected. Lilibet and Harry and Meghan wanted their photographer to capture the encounter. But they were denied a chance. An unnamed insider revealed that it was a private family gathering.
What justifies the choice? Associated Palace officials reportedly were concerned that US broadcasters might receive any offers. The Queen and Lilibet’s photographer, according to the same insider, feared that they would share any of their photos with US television networks.
In his memoir Spare, Harry revealed how much he cherished the encounter between his children and the Queen, especially now that her death occurred later that year. He recalled the tenderness of the scene, saying, “Archie making his deep bows, his baby sister Lilibet cuddling the monarch’s shins. Granny described them as the “sweetest children,” making a bemusement. She anticipated them to be a little more American, in my opinion? More rambunctious in her mind, she thinks.
While the Sussexes kept the majority of the details private during that meeting, new information emerged as a result of legal battles between Prince Harry and Associated News Limited, publishers of the Daily Mail.
A letter written by the queen’s private secretary was revealed as part of a summary judgment in his libel claim, which revealed the monarch’s ongoing concern for Harry and his family even after they stepped down from royal duties.
“You will understand well that ensuring that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain safe is of paramount importance to Her Majesty and her family,” the letter stated. It went on to stress: “Given the duke’s public profile by virtue of being born into the royal family, his military service, the duchess’s own independent profile and the well-documented history of targeting of the Sussex family by extremists, it is imperative that the family continues to be provided with effective security.”
Source: Mirror
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