Meghan, Duchess of Sussex celebrates daughter Lilibet’s 5th birthday with never-before-seen family photos

Show summary Hide summary

• Quick Facts
• A Milestone Birthday Moment
• Growing Up in the Spotlight
• Family Milestones and Life in Montecito
  • Sources

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex celebrated her daughter Princess Lilibet’s 5th birthday on Thursday, June 4, by sharing two never-before-seen family photos on Instagram. The images reveal the young royal’s distinctive red hair and capture tender moments with her parents in the gardens of their Montecito home.

A Milestone Birthday Moment

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex marked their daughter’s fifth birthday with an intimate family portrait shared on Meghan’s personal Instagram account. In the first image, Prince Harry holds Lilibet close while her mother looks on with a warm smile. The second photo captures the young princess standing barefoot in the family’s garden, wearing an embroidered sundress, her long red hair catching the light as she reaches toward a flower.

Meghan launched her Instagram account in 2025 and has used the platform to share rare glimpses of family life since stepping back from royal duties. Lilibet was born on June 4, 2021, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, making her the first great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II to be born outside the United Kingdom. Her full name, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, honors both the late queen’s family nickname and the children’s paternal grandmother, Princess Diana.

Growing Up in the Spotlight

While Prince Harry and Meghan have largely kept their children out of the public eye since relocating to California, they’ve shared milestones and special occasions with followers. Earlier this year, the couple took both children to Disneyland to celebrate their birthdays together, with a source telling People magazine that the kids “did lots of rides” and it was “a special way to extend Mother’s Day for Meghan and her mom.”

Lilibet’s red hair, which she shares with her older brother, is a trait inherited from their father. Meghan has previously referred to her daughter as “Mama’s little helper” in social media posts, offering fans candid moments from their family routine. The Duchess has spoken about wanting her children to experience normalcy despite their unique circumstances, saying in an interview that she wants “the same normalcy as parents and for our children as they do, despite however unique our situation is.”

Family Milestones and Life in Montecito

Meghan and Prince Harry have continued to balance private family life with public-facing projects since stepping back from royal roles in January 2020. The couple recently celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary in May 2026 and continue to share selective family moments on Meghan’s Instagram. Their production company, Archewell, is also developing content for Netflix, including a feature film based on the true story of British troops during the Afghanistan war.

The family’s Montecito home serves as the backdrop for the birthday photos, with the lush gardens providing a serene setting for the celebration. At 5 years old, Lilibet is growing up alongside her brother Archie, who turned 7 in May. Through carefully curated Instagram posts, Meghan has given followers periodic updates on the children’s lives—from holiday videos to birthday tributes—while maintaining the privacy she and Harry have sought for their family since leaving the United Kingdom.

Sources

• People Magazine — Birthday photos, caption, family details, and Montecito residence confirmation.
• BBC News — Birthday celebration, photo descriptions, and Instagram post details.
• Wikipedia — Lilibet’s birth date (June 4, 2021) and full name.