The Queen had the chance to meet her great-granddaughter Lilibet for the first time last night as Prince Harry and Meghan reunited with the Royal Family at Windsor Castle. Royal commentator Omid Scobie said the jubilee celebration would have been the first time the monarch could have met her namesake, who turns one on June 4, in person.
The news comes as the Queen celebrates the second day of her Platinum Jubilee today, with the highlight a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral attended by senior royals and politicians. Wider members of the family are also expected to be present, including Prince Harry and Meghan followed by a Guildhall reception.
The 96-year-old monarch pulled out of today's service due to ongoing mobility issues, experiencing "some discomfort" during Trooping the Colour and the RAF flypast. She will not be the only absentee. Prince Andrew has tested positive for Covid-19 and will also miss the service, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said on Thursday.
Mr Scobie told BBC Breakfast: "I think people are expecting some sort of big birthday extravagant event, that we're going to see photographs from. From what I'm told, we shouldn't expect anything. 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.
"They've been held back by a pandemic. Of course, the times that Harry has been here it's just been by himself for quite sombre occasions. And so this really was the first time.
"Of course, we know the Queen went back to Windsor Castle yesterday, the couple went back to Windsor as well where they're staying at Frogmore Cottage. So that would have been the first moment or the first chance for her to meet her namesake."
