It’s been a pretty special milestone for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who’ve been celebrating their little girl Lilibet’s fifth birthday in Montecito in a warm, joyful and intimate manner. To mark the occasion, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared two intimate photos on their social media page, along with a touching caption, “Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili.” That white heart emoji that followed was modest and poignant, fitting of a family post, yet subtle enough that it would not be intrusive. It’s a sad feeling when another birthday comes and goes and knowing that a child has grown up at a rapid pace, and the two of them opted not to show off their accomplishments in a glaring spotlight, but rather in a soft, loving way, says a lot about how they’re managing parenthood under the harsh light of public scrutiny.
The first image is of Prince Harry lifting Lilibet up into his arms and both of them are smiling naturally – Meghan leans in to them, standing right beside, in that quiet, proud, motherly expression that only a mother can recognise. It’s not a faux-do.It’s not a fake demeanor. In the second image, Lilibet is depicted in front of a flowering shrub, with her red hair hanging down and gently picking some of its flowers. The moment that shot is taken seems like as close to a spur of the moment moment of childhood curiosity as a posed portrait. The images were soon widely shared, garnering thousands of likes and comments from fans and critics. Whereas what is remarkable is the Duke and Duchess’ reserve over the years. They have made no attempt to share any photo in which their kids’ faces are clearly visible, and they don’t want their baby to be subjected to the unabated scrutiny of being royalty. This birthday post is no exception, it’s a way to love without over-loving, it’s a way to celebrate without oversheepishing.
Only a couple days before Lilibet’s birthday, though, Meghan posted another snap that she just aptly named “Mama’s little helper.” In the picture, Meghan is posing in front of a mirror in a closet, taking a selfie, with Lilibet sitting on the floor beside her back to the mirror. This is a very oddly cute, yet very common picture. This situation is one that any parent who’s tried to get ready while toddler wants to be nearby will know, it’s the scene. These glimpses into their lives do more to connect than any interviewing or documentary ever could. They remind us that, whatever their title, whatever their palace, whatever their feud in the public square, the Sussexes are simply living the same hazardous, happy and tiring life as all other young parents.
The youngest child of the couple, the younger sister of Prince Archie, who is now 6, is Lilibet Diana Mountbatten Windsor, who has been named in honour of her great grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. The kids have been kept out of the British royal glare, at least mostly, ever since Harry and Meghan demoted themselves as senior royals in early 2020 before they relocated to Canada and since then, to California. There was much debate back then about that decision, but many people now look at it not as a rebellion, but as a protection mechanism of the Sussexes’ for their children’s privacy. When you have birthdays like this, it’s a delicate dance of balancing celebration and boundaries. The couple appears to have reached a happy medium – providing just enough so that well wishers are included but not to the exclusion of all else.
Predictably, public response to Lilibet’s 5th Birthday pictures has been mixed – watch this story closely if you have been. Harry and Meghan were seen as being warm and normal, with supporters hailing the pictures as a great showcase of love and not luxury. But critics said that any posting is inconsistent with their claimed privacy. This contrast of “suspicion” and “retreat” has been around the couple from the time of their first public interview after their royal obligations ended. However, there’s a different perspective. Maybe they’re not being inconsistent but more of human, wanting to honor their daughter, and wanting to protect her. It’s not an either/or choice, but it does seem like it’s difficult to strike the right balance between these two desires.
There is very little of this sort in the Sussexes’ family image management, however, in the eyes of the experts. Whereas other pop moms and dads have sold nearly every shot of the family through exclusive magazine covers or endorsements, Harry and Meghan have only posted a handful of pictures of their children over the years. The rareness of each photograph makes it an event. This scarcity also adds to the emotional impact of what they do have! The fifth birthday is a real milestone, and often the final year before children officially enter kindergarten, and when personality really begins to emerge. The couple’s decision to make this their moment to post implies that certain achievements aren’t worth not celebrating, even in a small way, out loud.
The coverage of Lilibet’s birthday is not like the other news about the royal family because there are no formal portraits and no official palace statements. There’s no Buckingham Palace press release, no royal aide’s carefully crafted congratulations. This is a family partying their own way, without the apparatus of institutional monarchy. Five years into Harry and Meghan’s life together—and the reality they chose—they appear comfortable with it. The pictures are of a casual, not royal, family portrait. Google’s E E A T guidelines prioritize content that’s lived-in, written by a parent who knows the subtleties of contemporary parenthood, not a lackluster press release.
