Underlying Sadness Looms Over Princess Lilibet’s Third Birthday

Princess Lilibet, the daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, is set to celebrate her third birthday tomorrow amidst an air of underlying sadness, as revealed by a royal expert.

Despite the anticipated grand festivities for the young princess, there is a poignant truth surrounding the occasion that cannot be overlooked.

During an episode of The Sun's Royal Exclusive Programme, royal author Phil Dampier shed light on the heartache shared by Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, and King Charles, as they are likely to miss yet another significant family event.

Dampier expressed his sentiments, stating, “It's amazing that she's already three years old, but of course there's an underlying sadness because of the rift that's happening because the king doesn't see his grandchildren.”

The royal expert highlighted the limited interactions between King Charles and his grandchildren, mentioning that he has only met Lilibet once and Archie twice.

Despite being seventh and eighth in line to the throne, the young royals have primarily grown up in California, developing American accents and a physical distance from their British relatives.

Moreover, Phil Dampier expressed empathy towards Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, who has reportedly never had the opportunity to meet his grandchildren or his son-in-law, Prince Harry.

The estrangement between Meghan and her father was further exposed during her revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, where she discussed feeling betrayed by her father's actions.

Speculating on the future of these fractured family relationships, Dampier acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding any potential reconciliation, remarking, “That's the underlying sadness, and whether they'll ever heal that rift, we don't know, but at the moment I don't think there's much of a possibility.”

In addition, the royal expert raised concerns about the inevitable questions that may arise from Lilibet and Archie as they grow older, questioning their parents, Harry and Meghan, about the lack of communication with their extended family members.

This looming sense of disconnect within the royal family poses challenges for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry has been advised on how to address the strained relationship with his father, King Charles.

Despite their sporadic meetings over the years, the absence of a recent encounter during Harry's brief visit to the UK last month raised eyebrows within royal circles.

Royal expert Robert Hardman emphasized the importance of Harry bringing his immediate family – Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet – to the UK as a step towards rebuilding familial bonds.

Highlighting the significance of consistent family reunions, Hardman suggested that normalizing these gatherings would pave the way for smoother interactions in the future.