Prince Harry and Meghan Markle release rare photo of Lilibet on her first birthday

After four days of celebrations in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which coincided with Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor’s first birthday, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released an image of their daughter, as they celebrated her turning one over the weekend.

Lilibet, who was born in Santa Barbara, California, where the Sussexes now live after stepping back as senior working members of the Royal Family, celebrated turning one on Saturday, 4 June, the third day of celebrations in honour of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a picture of their daughter Lilibet celebrating her first birthday on Monday, where she can be seen smiling in the garden of Frogmore Cottage wearing a pale blue dress and white bow in her hair.

The photo was taken by a close family friend and professional photographer, Misan Harriman, at a birthday picnic hosted by the Sussexes at Frogmore, a spokesperson for the duke and duchess said.

Harriman – who previously took black-and-white photographs of Meghan and Harry when they announced she was pregnant with their second child – also shared two additional photos on social media of Lilibet's first birthday party.

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“It was such a privilege to celebrate the 1st birthday of Lilibet with my family and hers! Joy and face painting all around,” wrote the photographer on Twitter.

Among the images shared by Harriman was a sweet black and white photo of Meghan holding Lilibet alongside his wife, Camilla Holmstroem, and their two young daughters.

The third, featured an image of himself with his eldest daughter, who had yellow face paint on her face.

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The gorgeous image of Lilibet shows that she has inherited her father’s auburn hair, and royal fans have pointed out how similar she looks to Harry at the same age.

The Sussexes also received an outpouring of love and support from fans over the weekend, and on Lilibet’s birthday.

Prince Harry and Meghan said they were "incredibly touched" by birthday wishes they received for their second child, who was named in honour of the Queen.

It comes after they visited the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

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Over the weekend, the Sussexes made their first public appearance in the UK together since 2020 when they stepped back as senior members of the Royal Family. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a Service of Thanksgiving in honour of the Queen at St Paul's Cathedral.

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The couple were also pictured watching Trooping the Colour from a window of the Major General’s office, but were not part of the carriage procession or the group of working royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

It was expected that the Queen would meet her great-granddaughter, and namesake, on the Saturday of the Jubilee weekend, but there has so far been no confirmation from Buckingham Palace whether or not the Queen has met Lilibet.

Watch: Inside Lilibet's first birthday party at Frogmore Cottage