Queen Elizabeth II has met her great-granddaughter and namesake, Lilibet for the first time after inviting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to a private lunch with senior royals during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced their daughter to the monarch, who was nicknamed Lilibet as a child, yesterday at Windsor Castle.
The event was held behind closed doors following the Trooping the Colour, when thousands of people descended onto the Mall in central London.
Lilibet turns one tomorrow – but photos from a birthday party being held at Frogmore cottage are not expected.
Harry and Meghan are said to want to keep a low profile this weekend to avoid overshadowing the Queen.
Meanwhile, speaking to BBC Breakfast about the older Lilibet meeting her much younger namesake, royal commentator Omid Scobie said;
I spoke with people close to the couple… who said that they want to be as low-profile as possible during this trip.It’s almost hard to believe, but I think yesterday Trooping the Colour was a great example. We didn’t really catch sight of them on TV cameras.
‘Warm And Close’ Relationship
He added that the couple hold a ‘warm and close’ relationship with the Queen and that last evening at Windsor would have been the first time Her Majesty would have met her namesake in person.
Scobie said;
Those moments with Lilibet are very much private between them and the Queen and of course we know how much she’s been looking forward to it.
Legal Row
Prince Harry has only visited the UK on a handful of occasions since Lilibet was born and did not bring his family with him.
He is embroiled in a legal row with the UK Home Office over his Metropolitan Police security, which was stripped from him when he quit as a working member of the royal family and moved to the US.
Read Also: Prince Harry And Meghan Will Not Return As Working Members Of Royal Family
Prince Harry was reportedly given ‘cast iron assurances’ his family would be safe in the UK during the four-day jubilee weekend.
The Queen sent a car and security detail to pick them up after they arrived in the UK on Wednesday night.
The couple attended the Trooping the Colour yesterday, though they did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony, which was reserved for working royals only.
Thanksgiving Service
Today, they are expected to attend the Thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral.
The Queen herself will not be attending after suffering ‘discomfort’ during yesterday’s events.
Read Also: Prince Andrew Reaches Out-Of-Court Settlement With Sex Abuse Accuser, Virginia Giuffre
Disgraced Prince Andrew has also pulled out after testing positive for coronavirus – though he was never expected to accompany the Queen after being effectively cast out of the royal family following his sex abuse case.
