Queen, Kate Middleton and Prince William wish Lilibet a ‘very happy first birthday’ after meeting great-granddaughter
THE Queen has today wished her namesake great-granddaughter Lilibet a "very happy birthday" after meeting her for the first time this week.
Little Lilibet, named after the monarch's own childhood nickname, is in the UK for the first time in her life amid the Platinum Jubilee celebrations as she turns one.
And while she and brother Archie, three, have not been seen in public, it's understood the Queen, 96, finally got the chance to meet Meghan and Harry's little girl as they returned to Britain to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.
Her Majesty today wished her great-granddaughter happy birthday as she turned one, with the family expected to celebrate the milestone privately.
No pictures have been released of Archie and Lilibet since they touched down in the UK earlier this week.
In a tweet, the monarch sent her well wishes to the royal tot alongside a balloon emoji.
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It reads: "Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!"
Lilibet's uncle and aunt Prince William and Kate Middleton also shared a message on the platform, which said: "Wishing a very happy birthday to Lilibet, turning one today!"
And Prince Charles and wife Camilla wrote: "Wishing Lilibet a very happy 1st birthday today!"
It comes after The Sun revealed the Queen HAS met her great-granddaughter - named Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor in her honour - before her birthday today.
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The family-of-four have been staying at Frogmore Cottage which just is a ten-minute walk from the Queen's private apartments at Windsor Castle.
It is not clear when Lilibet met Lilibet but the Sussexes arrived at noon on Wednesday while the Queen was at her apartments.
Harry and Meghan also travelled back to Frogmore on Friday afternoon following a service at St Paul's Cathedral.
And the couple opted out of a reception at the Guildhall in London after the St Paul's thanksgiving yesterday to head back to Windsor where the Queen was resting.
Royal commentator , author of Finding Freedom, said Harry and Meghan will spend the day in Windsor together privately as a family.
Scobie told breakfast this week that people shouldn't expect "some sort of big birthday extravagant event" for the soon-to-be one-year-old's celebrations - nor should they anticipate any photos.
He said: "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. And so this really was the first time."
LEGS IT
It comes after Harry and Meghan made another sharp exit as they snubbed a family Jubilee event yesterday.
The US-based pair dashed from the Queen’s thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral rather than join other royals and VIPs at a reception.
They were whisked back to Windsor after keeping their distance from Wills and Kate, during the frosty service.
The couple were greeted with a mixture of cheers and boos from crowds outside St Paul’s as they arrived separately to William and Kate.
The Sussexes then sat in the second row more than 25ft across the aisle from the Cambridges, Charles and Camilla who got front-row positions as working royals.
Her Majesty missed the service after experiencing some "discomfort" during Thursday's celebrations.
'VERY TIRING'
Buckingham Palace also confirmed the Queen will miss the Epsom Derby today because of her ongoing health issues.
The monarch, who has been experiencing episodic mobility problems, will not attend the major sporting event and is likely to watch the race on television at Windsor Castle.
Kate revealed the Queen was "fine" but had found the first day of the celebrations "very tiring".
The monarch had watched Trooping the Colour as she beamed alongside her family on the balcony - as cheeky Prince Louis kept her company.
At a reception at London's Guildhall on Friday, the Duchess of Cambridge is said to have told an attendee the Queen is "fine" but had found the day "very tiring".
Gill Smallwood, from Bolton spoke, with Kate and asked how the Queen was doing.
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Ms Smallwood said: "She (Kate) said 'yes, she was fine, it was just very tiring yesterday, and she (the Queen) had had a lovely, lovely time'."
The passionate horse lover, who has only missed the Derby four times in 75 years, previously ensured three of her best horses could compete in the race on her Jubilee — giving her the best chance yet of bagging the trophy.
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