RF. Meghan Markle Shares First-Ever Public Photo of Lilibet — Fans Can’t Stop Talking About Her Striking Red Hair

A Labor Day playlist, children in matching headphones, and a clapperboard cameo — Meghan Markle’s latest Instagram post offered an unusually candid look at family life behind the scenes of her Netflix series.

In a surprise move that left royal watchers reeling, Meghan Markle stunned the public over Labor Day weekend with a jaw-dropping Instagram post that offered a candid, never-before-seen glimpse of her fiercely protected family life.

The Duchess of Sussex, long known for keeping her children out of the spotlight, shared a series of candid photographs from the filming of Season 2 of her Netflix lifestyle series, “With Love, Meghan.” Among the production shots and set scenery were three images featuring Archie and Lilibet, images that represent one of the most open glimpses yet into the Sussexes’ family dynamic.

In one image, the young siblings are captured from behind, perched in front of a production monitor, each wearing black headphones as they observe the action on set. Their vibrant red hair, a trait inherited from Prince Harry, glows in the daylight, their small figures intent and absorbed in the scene before them.

Another photo shows little Lilibet seated solo in a director’s chair, her tiny frame swallowed by the black leather seat, her pale pink jumper and navy polka-dot pants a picture of innocent charm, as she looks away from the camera, her face obscured.

A third image features Archie, mid-action, gripping a clapperboard used to mark scenes during filming. His face is deliberately hidden behind a playful heart emoji. The board is marked with a shooting date of November 1, 2024.

The caption accompanying the carousel post read, “Filming season two of ‘With Love, Meghan’ was more fun than you can imagine. Part of how we kept the vibe alive? Music. Between set ups [sic] I would play a song from my phone, and today I wanted to share some of the favorites I kept on rotation! Add them to your playlist, press shuffle, and enjoy! Happy Labor Day weekend! Work hard, play hard 🎶.”

Season 2 of “With Love, Meghan” picks up where the first left off. The first season delved into Meghan’s love for cooking, gardening, and home entertaining — but one thing the cameras didn’t capture? The interior of the couple’s lavish Montecito mansion.

Instead, production was carefully confined to the orchard, chicken coop, and other scenic outdoor spaces near their home. It was a calculated move that gave Meghan control without full exposure.

Discussing the first season in a March 2025 interview, Meghan confessed, “Archie did the [filming clapboard]! Sweet moments. They would also come with my husband and visit me on-set, and I loved that my children were able to watch me working and see the balance of that and understand what Mama does and is working to create and share. It was really special because up until then, they hadn’t seen me at work.”

The recent images marked a notable shift from the Sussexes’ usual media strategy, offering a rare peek into their closely guarded family life. They arrive months after a very different kind of social media moment — one that drew no shortage of criticism and fueled fresh speculation about the Duchess’s public image.

Earlier this year, Meghan faced a wave of unexpected backlash — not for posting photos of her children, but for what she brought home from her trip to Canada during the Invictus Games.

After spending five days supporting Prince Harry at the event, Meghan flew back to California early and expressed her joy about being back in California with her and Prince Harry’s children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. Meanwhile, Harry remained in Canada for events leading up to the Invictus Games closing ceremony.

The Duchess shared a light-hearted Instagram Story showcasing mementos she brought back for Archie and Lilibet. “A taste of Canada and The Invictus Games for our little ones! Cheering you on from home!” read the text overlay as she showed off personalized sports jerseys, snacks, and fruit packed in her luggage.

Her post didn’t sit well with some online users who had questions about her kids’ social lives and why she transported food from one country to another. One person sarcastically remarked, “Fancy taking home stale food to your children because you didn’t want them enjoying the ‘family orientated’ [sic] Invictus Games.”

Another person who seemed puzzled, asked, “What kids, why didn’t they get to go to the games? Huh?” A different user expressed sympathy for the Sussex children, “And I feel sorry for those kids, they never get to go anywhere.”

Meanwhile, someone else had a more supportive take on Meghan Markle’s brief appearance at the event, “It was fun to be able to at least spend a little bit of time supporting her husband and supporting the veterans who were working so hard. Bet she missed their kiddos❤️.”

Still, one person with a different view bluntly stated, “She should not be there anyway.” Amid the criticism, one person took a more positive approach, saying, “Good for her and the children.”

Adding fuel to the online fire, fans were quick to notice that she and Prince Harry would be spending Valentine’s Day apart, with Meghan heading back to California while Harry remained in Canada for more Invictus events. That detail alone was enough to ignite full-blown speculation, and the commenters didn’t hold back.

A user humorously referenced a classic song, writing,“Billy Connelly is bringing out his old song ..D.I.V.O.R.C.E.” Some fans, however, downplayed the situation. One suggested a simple solution, “The ticket home was all he needs [sic] to do.” Meanwhile, another noted, “And? A lot of couples have to spend Valentine’s Day apart.”

Insiders quickly shot down the rumors. A source noted, “This was always planned. Meghan is going home to be with her children. Meghan left the Games in Düsseldorf early, after five days to go home. This is Prince Harry’s event and she is there to support him, but this was planned.”

And before Meghan flew home, the couple enjoyed a cozy early Valentine’s Day dinner with Michael Bublé and Luisana Lopilato at II Caminetto, an upscale restaurant in Whistler. They enjoyed a two-hour meal after completing their first day of engagements in Whistler. The four had dined at the same spot last year during a two-day event to promote the Invictus Games.

The Duchess was later seen arriving in California on Tuesday, February 11. Dressed in a blue sweater with white lettering, she stepped off a private jet at Santa Barbara Airport in the evening. Apart from a security guard, she was unaccompanied as she disembarked inside a hangar.

After Meghan left, Harry reportedly took a day off to relax and unwind before going back to the celebrated games. At the 2023 Invictus Games held in Germany, Meghan had also only stayed for five days before leaving Harry to enjoy the rest of the events solo. This time, while she was in Canada, she enjoyed the games in Vancouver and at the Whistler ski resort.

After his wife’s departure, Harry continued his appearances at the Games, often navigating crowded events on Whistler Mountain, but even in her absence, he made his feelings known.

Harry has always been grateful to have Meghan’s support at the Invictus Games. During this year’s opening ceremony, she appeared happy and comfortable, affectionately kissing Harry and resting her head on his shoulder.

“To have my wife here supporting me is amazing. I love that she’s by my side. It’s such an important piece to this whole adventure,” Harry gushed in front of 40,000 people.

Looking ahead, he shared his excitement for the 2027 Games in Birmingham. “It’s amazing how, after 10 years, we’re still doing this. We will continue the Games for as long as it’s needed – and the need is increasing rather than reducing,” said Harry.

From a soft-focus director’s chair and clapperboard moment to fruit-packed backlash and Valentine’s Day speculation, Meghan remains one of the most closely watched and hotly debated public figures of our time.

Whether her latest family post signals a new chapter of transparency, or just a fleeting flicker of visibility in an otherwise protected world, the stakes remain sky-high every time she hits “share.”