Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor of Sussex turned one on the Saturday of the Queen's Jubilee weekend, and her parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle threw her a lovely birthday party at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. They also very kindly shared an adorable picture of the little girl with us all to mark the occasion.
But the day wasn't all sunshine and rainbows: Of the people who couldn't attend, it was Prince William and Kate Middleton's absence at the party that cut the deepest, according to one source close to the Duke of Sussex.
"It was a kick in the teeth that the Cambridges didn’t attend," the source told Heat. "For Meghan, it just strengthened her resolve to not come back."
As previously reported, the Cambridges were scheduled to visit Wales on that day in advance, and they couldn't exactly skip that visit. One source told Entertainment Tonight post-Jubilee, "It's simply a coincidence they fell on the same day. There was no intended slight."
With that said, we do know how tense relations have been between the two royal couples since the Sussexes left their royal duties in early 2020, so even though they physically couldn't attend, it's easy to hypothesize that the Cambridges also didn't want to attend. I can see how that would be really difficult.
Their reception by the Royal Family as a whole was frosty at best, which Heat's source also commented on. "Harry and Meghan knew there would be awkward moments, but they had no idea how hostile the reception would be," they said.
They added, "Being ridiculed like that was very hard for Harry to take.
"He tries not to read the negative things written about them, but there was no avoiding it. They’ve been accused of milking their fame and being money-hungry. There were plenty of cheers for them, too, but they know some of the public didn’t want them to come back for the Jubilee and that was really hurtful."
-
New Monument Honoring Former Queen Elizabeth Will Be Unveiled on What Would Have Been Her 100th BirthdayRoyal fans will have to wait until 2026 to see the statue.
-
Ben Affleck Skips Premiere of New Movie Starring Jennifer Lopez in the Midst of Their DivorceThe actor remained in Los Angeles while his ex stepped out in Toronto.
-
This Fashion Show Made Me Proud to Be a Dog PersonSusan Alexandra and Rachel Antonoff put Westminster to shame.
-
How a Frail Queen Elizabeth Hilariously Told off Her Groom After Final Pony RideShe kept her sense of humor until the end.
-
A Look Back at Princess Diana's Funeral 27 Years LaterThe world said goodbye to the princess on Sept. 6, 1997.
-
Prince Harry's Ex, Chelsy Davy, Just Ended Her Long Social Media Silence and Revealed She Welcomed a Second BabyThe Instagram post is Davy's first in two years.
-
Prince Harry Made a Rare Appearance on Social Media in a New Video for the Invictus GamesThe Royal lent his famous face to promote a good cause.
-
King Charles is Honoring Queen Elizabeth with a Special Fashion TributeThe Queen of scarves lives on.
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Neighbors Reveal Rare Details About Their Life in CaliforniaPicture Harry, like every other dad in America doing school drop-off—except with a security detail following him in a Range Rover.
-
Princess Diana Had a "Very Naughty" Sense of Humor and Loved TV Show 'Dynasty'"She always had plastic vomit or plastic dog poop in her bag to place on people’s seats."
-
Why Queen Elizabeth Once Called a Photographer "One Horrible Little Man""At that very moment, I wished there was a big hole I could disappear into."
