Harry and Meghan wanted Lilibet’s first meeting with her great-grandmother to be captured

rince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly left disappointed during a moment with the late Queen Elizabeth II, after being firmly denied a request during her first and only meeting with their daughter, Princess Lilibet Diana.

The emotional encounter took place during the couple’s visit to the UK in June 2022 for the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

The trip also coincided with Lilibet’s first birthday, making it her first visit to Britain since her birth on June 4, 2021.
Meghan and Harry reportedly wanted Lilibet’s first meeting with her great-grandmother to be captured on camera (Credit: SplashNews)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ask Queen Elizabeth II about Lilibet

Despite the significance of the occasion, the late Queen is said to have rejected Harry and Meghan’s wish to photograph the private family moment,

This boundary was reportedly due to concerns about how the images might be used.

“Harry and Meghan wanted their photographer to capture the moment Lilibet met the Queen,” an insider told Express. “But they were told no chance. It was a private family meeting.”

The source added that the palace was wary of the images being shared publicly, especially with US media networks.

“There were fears any photos of the Queen and Lilibet taken by the couple’s photographer would be shared by them with US telly networks.”

But they were told no chance. It was a private family meeting.

Although no photographs were taken, Prince Harry recounted the encounter between his grandmother and his two children in his 2023 memoir, Spare.

In the book, he described Lilibet’s sweet and quiet interaction with the late Queen. Elizabeth died just three months later, in September 2022.

“Archie making his deep bows, his baby sister Lilibet cuddling the monarch’s shins,” Harry wrote. “Sweetest children, Granny said, sounding bemused. She’d expected them to be a bit more… American, I think? Meaning in her mind, more rambunctious.”

The visit was brief, but meaningful. While the Queen had met Archie as a baby before Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, it was the first and only time she met Lilibet in person.

Lilibet was named after her beloved childhood nickname, Lilibet.
Queen Elizabeth reportedly insisted that the moment should be kept private (Credit: SplashNews)

Meghan and Harry celebrate seven years of marriage

Meanwhile, on Monday, May 19, Harry and Meghan celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary.

To mark the occasion, Meghan shared a series of unseen family photos in a touching Instagram post.

The Duchess of Sussex uploaded a snap of a pinboard collage featuring tender moments from their life together. Titled “Our love story,” the board includes intimate photos from their romance, marriage, and early parenthood.

Meghan captioned the post: “Seven years of marriage. A lifetime of stories. Thanks to all of you (whether by our side or from afar) who have loved and supported us throughout our love story. We appreciate you. Happy anniversary!”

Among the images were Harry cuddling baby Archie, Archie and Lilibet hugging in front of a Christmas tree, an ultrasound photo of Archie and a black-and-white photo from the couple’s wedding day.