Harry and Meghan post a picture of Lilibet on her first birthday

After celebrating Lilibet’s first birthday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a photo of the young girl.

At a birthday picnic the couple threw at Windsor’s Frogmore Cottage, Lilibet can be seen smiling.

The birthday wishes for their second child, who was given the name of the Queen, were “very touching,” according to Prince Harry and Meghan.

It follows their travel to the UK for the Platinum Jubilee.

The Sussexes attended a ceremony of thanksgiving for the Queen at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, marking their first public outing as a family in Britain since 2020.

The couple was also photographed from a window as they observed Trooping the Colour, although they were not among the working royals and their children who were allowed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the carriage parade or during the group.

The Sussexes moved to Santa Barbara, California, where they currently reside, after stepping down from their role as senior working royals last week, giving the 96-year-old monarch the first opportunity to see her great-granddaughter.

However, it has not been confirmed whether the Queen has met Lilibet.

Lilibet is shown in the photo wearing a light blue dress and a white ribbon in her hair as she celebrated her first birthday on Saturday.

According to a spokesman for the duke and duchess, Misan Harriman, a family friend, took the picture at a picnic with the couple’s relatives and close friends.

Mr Harriman, a professional photographer, later tweeted a black and white picture of Meghan holding Lilibet with the caption: “The opportunity to join my family and Lilibet’s family in celebrating her first birthday was such a blessing! Face painting and joy are everywhere.”

When Meghan and Harry revealed she was pregnant with their second child, Mr Harriman previously captured black-and-white pictures of the couple.

According to a representative for the Sussexes, Claire Ptak, the couple’s wedding baker, also provided cake for the picnic.

They continued by stating that more than $100,000 (£79,800) had been donated in their daughter’s honor by individuals all around the world to World Central Kitchen, a group that provides meals for those impacted by humanitarian, climatic, and community problems.

Prince Harry and Meghan appear to be making a serious effort to maintain a low profile during their visit for the Platinum Jubilee, and this timing of the photo’s release certainly fits that description.

Although Lilibet’s birthday occurred on a Saturday, the photo wasn’t made public until Monday night, after the Jubilee weekend had ended, and there was no longer any chance of allegations of stealing the Queen’s spotlight.

Additionally, no information has been provided regarding which family members attended the birthday celebration. This conformed with an earlier position taken by Buckingham Palace, which said that any family gatherings, including those with the Queen, would be kept secret.

With such intense and sharply divided public attention surrounding them, Prince Harry and Meghan are trying to maintain a delicate balance.

If they appear to be inviting attention, they will probably get criticism; if they hide, they will probably draw blame.