Since making California their home, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have maintained a thoughtful balance between their public endeavors and their private family life. While their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, remain Seventh and Eighth in line to the British throne respectively, the couple has chosen to keep their day-to-day upbringing largely away from the global spotlight.
Unlike the frequent public appearances expected of young royals raised in the United Kingdom, pictures and personal updates regarding young Lilibet are shared selectively. Over the years, however, through official holiday greetings, candid social media posts, and behind-the-scenes documentary footage, the Duchess has offered royal watchers occasional, heartwarming glimpses into her daughter’s world.
Early Milestones and First Introductions
When Princess Lilibet was born in June 2021, public curiosity was naturally high. Following her birth, the family kept their news close, waiting six months before revealing the first official portrait of their daughter on their 2021 holiday card, photographed by Alexi Lubomirski. The image captured a joyous family moment, with Meghan holding a laughing newborn Lilibet alongside Prince Harry and a young Archie.
Subsequent milestones were shared with similar intimacy:
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First Birthday at Frogmore Cottage: In June 2022, during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, Lilibet celebrated her first birthday with an intimate backyard picnic at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Acclaimed photographer and close family friend Misan Harriman captured a portrait of the young princess sitting on the lawn in a pale blue dress, displaying her father’s signature red hair.
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The Netflix Docuseries: Further early moments surfaced in late 2022 through the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan. The project featured candid home clips of newborn swaddles, quiet nursery moments, and early steps guided by both parents.
Life in California: Nature, Play, and Daily Routines
As Lilibet has grown, updates shared by the Duchess highlight an outdoor-centered childhood in Montecito, California. Posts and video clips shared across official Archewell platforms and social channels depict a life filled with garden exploration, animals, and casual family routines.
Connection to Nature and Animals
Home videos have frequently shown Lilibet interacting with nature in their expansive garden. One update showed the young royal gently petting the family’s rescue chickens, while another captured her barefoot, running through the grass alongside Prince Harry. Other shared moments depict her learning to interact with horses and bonding with the family’s three rescue dogs—Guy, Pula, and Momma Mia.
Creative Play and Everyday Moments
Behind-the-scenes clips from Meghan’s lifestyle brand projects (As Ever) and media productions (With Love, Meghan) show Lilibet engaging in quiet daily moments:
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Helping her mother prepare outfits before travel.
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Interacting with production crew members and makeup artists between filming setups.
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Joining her older brother, Archie, on energetic Easter egg hunts through the garden.
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Running through the kitchen to blow a kiss to a framed photograph of a beloved late family pet.
Family Traditions and Community Involvement
Alongside quiet moments at home, Harry and Meghan have introduced their children to seasonal family traditions and community service activities.
In November 2025, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Lilibet and Archie joined their parents at Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA). Partnering with the Archewell Foundation, the family spent the afternoon rolling dough and packaging meals for local community members in need. Shared photos showed the young siblings fully participating along the prep line alongside their parents, illustrating the family’s focus on service and community care.
Celebrations and Special Outings
While everyday life remains low-profile, special occasions are marked with family trips and creative celebrations.
For Lilibet’s fourth birthday in June 2025, the Sussex family, accompanied by grandmother Doria Ragland, spent two days at Disneyland. Video highlights shared by the Duchess showed the young princess exploring the park, riding the carousel with her brother, and meeting Disney characters including Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Elsa. While sharing snippets of the joyous celebration, the couple maintained privacy protocols, keeping public views of their children’s faces protected during the trip.
Similarly, annual observances like International Women’s Day and International Day of the Girl are often accompanied by reflective posts. In these, the Duchess shares quiet moments—such as sitting on coastal rocks watching the ocean with her daughter—alongside messages highlighting the importance of supporting young girls worldwide.
The Father-Daughter Bond and Growing Up Fast
Throughout these occasional updates, the strong bond between Prince Harry and his daughter remains a constant theme. From quiet moments holding baby balloons to playful beach days and tandem bicycle rides, the shared photos depict a close, affectionate father-daughter relationship.
Now four years old, with her signature long red hair following closely in her father’s footsteps, Princess Lilibet’s life reflects a balance crafted by her parents: rooted in privacy and security, yet rich in family traditions, nature, and meaningful everyday experiences.