Who is Princess Lilibet? What we know as Harry and Meghan's daughter celebrates second birthday
Princess Lilibet celebrated her second birthday on Sunday 4 June, her first one spent in the US.
Her first birthday was spent in the gardens of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, the former British home of her parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The family were in the UK in June 2022 to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
While no information has been released about how Lilibet celebrated her birthday this year, it is believed that she celebrated at the Sussex’s family home in Montecito, California.
But who is Princess Lilibet and where does she sit in the line of succession? Here’s everything you need to know about the young royal.
Who is Princess Lilibet?
Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born on 4 June 2021 at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, USA.
She is the youngest child and only daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the only sibling to four-year-old Prince Archie.
She is the granddaughter of King Charles III, and the niece of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Her first cousins include Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The meaning behind Princess Lilibet’s name
Lilibet is affectionately referred to as 'Lili' by her parents. Her first name is a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth’s childhood nickname, and her middle name is an ode to Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.
Where does Princess Lilibet sit in the line of succession?
Lilibet is currently seventh in line to the British throne. Because her father, Prince Harry, is the second born child of the King, he sits below Prince William and his three children in the line of succession at fifth. Prince Archie is sixth in line to the throne.
Princess Lilibet has made minimal public appearances
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have only released a handful of images of their daughter, and none so far to celebrate her second birthday.
Lilibet appeared on the family’s Christmas card at the end of 2021, and an image of the young royal was shared to celebrate her first birthday in 2022. She also made several small appearances in her parents' Netflix special, Harry & Meghan.
Why does Princess Lilibet have a HRH title?
When King Charles ascended the throne on 8 September 2022, Lilibet and Archie technically became princess and prince due to the title rules set out by King George V in 1917.
The rules state that the children and grandchildren of a monarch are given the automatic right to the HRH stylings, prince and princess.
Lilibet was first referred to as Princess Lilibet in March 2023 after she was christened.
In their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said the Royal Family didn't want Archie to have an HRH title.
“They didn't want him [Archie] to be a prince or princess, not knowing what the gender would be, which would be different from protocol, and [said] that he wasn't going to receive security,” Meghan said at the time.
“The idea of our son not being safe and also the idea of the first member of colour in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be…" she continued.
“It's not their right to take it away... While I was pregnant they said they want to change the convention for Archie. Well, why?”
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