Queen Elizabeth was “left hanging” by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, after she had made special arrangements for her great-granddaughter, Princess Lilibet‘s special milestone, reports have claimed. The late monarch, who died in September 2022, had reportedly organised a birthday surprise for the Duke and Duchess’s daughter, who was named after her, but her plans did not turn out as she had hoped.
Lilibet turned one on July 4, 2022, which coincided with Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The Sussexes made their last visit as a family of four to the UK. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have not visited the country since. According to a former palace staffer, the late Queen had ordered a cake with one candle on it that never got lit, as the Sussexes had other plans instead.
The young princess celebrated her birthday at Frogmore Cottage instead, where her parents organised a backyard picnic for her, which the late Queen did not attend due to another engagement that she also ended up missing due to her health.
The Sussex family then returned to the US the next day, without seeing the late monarch.
Paul Burrell, who used to work as a butler for the royals, previously told the Mirror: “She [Queen Elizabeth] saw her [Princess Lilibet] the day before.
“But on her birthday, the [late] Queen had a birthday cake made with one candle in it. And they never turned up. That candle was never lit.”
He added: “The next day she asked if maybe they’d like to come up for tea again and was told they’ve gone.
“‘What do you mean they’ve gone?’ she said. They’ve gone back to America. ‘Oh no, they never said goodbye.'”
The former royal butler alleged the late monarch was left “confused” by the Sussexes’ decision to leave so quickly.
He said: “How could you offend our Queen? Well, I don’t understand anyone that could do that. Not her family, why would you want to?
“She was devoid of jealousy, anger, envy, all those traits that we associate with other people she didn’t have.
“She was just a very simple soul. I wish the world could have known her the way I knew her.”
