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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
Kyle O'Sullivan & Sophie Collins

Why William and Kate didn't attend Lilibet's birthday after Harry and Meghan invite

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry did invite Prince William and Kate Middleton to Lilibet's birthday party.

According to sources, there is a legitimate reason why Prince Williams and Kate Middleton were not in attendance for the special occasion.

The Cambridges and their three children, George, 8, Charlotte, 7, and Louis, 4, were reportedly invited to spend time with the Sussexes to celebrate their daughter's first year.

READ MORE: Prince Philip's savage joke about David and Victoria Beckham's wedding thrones

This marked ‘an olive branch' between the two couples, according to Page Six, but they were unable to attend the celebrations at Frogmore Cottage.

William and Kate were carrying out a royal engagement in Cardiff with George and Charlotte while Louis remained at home.

However, a source told the US paper that relations between the warring brothers 'still fraught', adding: "William is still wary of spending any time alone with Harry as you never quite know what may be reported back afterward."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly invited a number of close friends and family members to a low-key back garden picnic while attending the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Attendees included Zara and Mike Tindall's three children, Mia, 8, Lena, 3, and Lucas, 1, as well as Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10, daughters of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly.

It is understood that three-year-old Archie's godfather, Charlie Van Straubenzee, and his brother Tom, godfather to Princess Charlotte, were also invited.

Prince Harry and Meghan release first pic of birthday girl Lilibet (@scobie/Twitter)

The relaxed event included all the usual features of a one-year-old's birthday - such as birthday cake, balloons, party face painting and games.

The Sussexes gave the world a rare glimpse of their daughter by releasing a sweet snap of the one-year-old enjoying her birthday celebrations on the grass outside.

It was taken by family friend Misan Harriman who also took the sweet snaps used by Harry and Meghan to announce the Duchess was pregnant with Lilibet in February 2021.

He wrote on his Twitter: "It was such a privilege to celebrate the first birthday of Lilibet with my family and hers! Joy and face painting all around."

It is thought Harry and Meghan's wedding baker made Lilibet's first birthday cake.

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