In a recent revelation, a former royal aide has claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, declined an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to join them on their daughter, Princess Lilibet's first birthday on June 4, 2022. This claim has added another layer to the ongoing speculations surrounding the relationship dynamics within the British royal family.
The Duke and Duchess, along with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, were in the U.K. in June last year to partake in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. During this period, they celebrated Lilibet's first birthday with a picnic at Frogmore Cottage, attended by close family and friends, including Prince Harry's cousins, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, and their children.
However, the Queen, who was initially scheduled to attend the Epsom Derby in Surrey on the same day, had to cancel her plans due to mobility issues. Paul Burrell, who served as Princess Diana's butler until her untimely demise in 1997, shared with the Mirror that the Queen had a birthday cake prepared for Lilibet, complete with a single candle. However, the Sussexes did not show up, leaving the candle unlit.
Burrell further claimed that the Queen was taken aback when she discovered that the Duke and Duchess had returned to California even before the Jubilee celebrations concluded. According to him, the following day, the Queen inquired about the possibility of having tea with the couple, only to be informed that they had already departed for America. Burrell quoted the Queen's response as, "Oh no, they never said goodbye."
While Burrell expressed his inability to comprehend why anyone would want to offend the Queen, especially family members, his claims have been met with skepticism. An anonymous source refuted Burrell's allegations, telling Page Six that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did, in fact, meet the Queen to celebrate Lilibet's birthday.
It's worth noting that the couple named their daughter Lilibet Diana, drawing inspiration from Queen Elizabeth II's moniker and in honor of the late Princess Diana. On Lilibet's first birthday, their photographer friend, Misan Harriman, captured a heartwarming photo of the young princess, which subsequently became her first official portrait since her birth.
As the story unfolds, it remains to be seen how these claims will impact the already strained relationship between the Sussexes and the British royal family. The truth behind these allegations, whether they hold water or are mere speculations, will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion in the days to come.