Lilibet’s first birthday: Harry and Meghan’s daughter is pictured at Frogmore Cottage

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released a new picture of Lilibet on her first birthday at Frogmore Cottage during the Platinum Jubilee. 

Harry and Meghan hosted a ‘relaxed’ garden party on Saturday for little Lilibet, one, in the Windsor estate with birthday cake, balloons, party games and picnic snacks, it is understood.

She is seen on her birthday in an official photograph with reddish locks, smiling and dressed in a pale blue frock with a white bow in her hair. 

This is the second official picture of Lilibet after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a Christmas card on December 23.

When Prince Harry was also one, he was pictured with his trademark reddish locks, similar to how his daughter looks now. 

The Lilibet picture was taken by photographer and friend of the couple Misan Harriman, who attended the small picnic with his wife, children and members of the Royal family.

Those who are said to have also been at Frogmore Cottage include Zara and Mike Tindall’s three children, Mia, eight, Lena, three, and Lucas, one, as well as Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10, daughters of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly.

Three-year-old Archie’s godfather, Charlie Van Straubenzee, and his brother Tom, godfather to Princess Charlotte, were also invited, it is understood. 

The Queen was also said to have met her namesake on Thursday or Friday during the Platinum Jubilee festivities. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the Platinum Jubilee early – missing the Pageant and the Queen on the balcony yesterday – as they flew back in a private jet to California with luggage that appeared to include a wooden swing set which looked similar to the one gifted to William and Kate by Prince Charles. 

The California couple released the photograph hours after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge put pictures on social media showing hidden moments from the Jubilee including new pictures of Louis with his father, William, and Kate and the children including Princess Charlotte and Prince George waiting in a doorway. 

Photographer Mr Harriman wrote on her Twitter: ‘It was such a privilege to celebrate the first birthday of Lilibet with my family and hers! Joy and face painting all around.’

Twitter royal commentator and friend of the Sussexes Omid Scobie said the couple invited close friends and family for an ‘intimate backyard picnic’ as he posted the picture. 

Mr Scobie added that Harry and Meghan’s wedding baker Claire Ptak made a special order for the party.

And was told by a spokesperson for the couple that they ‘remain incredibly touched by the countless birthday wishes for their daughter’ and have also been ‘amazed’ to learn that $100K (£79,000) was donated in Lilibet’s honour.  

The funds went to World Central Kitchen, a not-for-profit organisation partnered with the couple’s Archewell foundation, according to a spokesperson for the Sussexes.

The organisation has provided support in Uvalde, Texas and Ukraine, the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the couple did not name specific family members who attended the event. 

A source spoke to The Sun, about the party, saying: ‘It was a lovely do and had everything you’d expect from a child’s birthday party.

‘The idea was for it to be very relaxed and casual, with people free to pop in and out as they wished.’

They said that it was a ‘nice opportunity’ for some of the royal children to meet little Lilibet, with this trip being her first time in the UK.

They added that ‘lots of discussion’ had been had about the best gifts for the ‘milestone’ birthday, with a ‘£75 pink Volkswagen Beetle ride-on toy’ proving a popular idea.

It’s unclear whether the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, or Prince Charles were able to attend Lilbet’s birthday in Windsor but were reportedly not there. 

However, the Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla, Kate Middleton and Prince William shared their greetings on social media at the exact same time. 

The official Twitter account for the Queen posted: ‘Wishing Lilibet a very Happy 1st Birthday!’,  the  account for Prince Charles shared an almost identical message.

The words posted on the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s social media read: ‘Wishing Lilibet a very happy 1st birthday today’ along with a cake emoji.

It is also very likely that Prince Charles met his grandchildren. It is understood that he and Camilla met Harry and Meghan privately. 

It comes after George Northwood, the Duchess’ hairdresser, who recently jetted out to the Netherlands to do Meghan’s beauty while she attended the Invictus Games with husband, shared a post on Instagram with several images of the Duchess. 

In a gushing caption, he posted: ‘So nostalgic and wonderful to be reunited Harry, Meghan and their family in the UK. Archie has grown to be the cutest, well mannered little boy and Lilibet is just beautiful.’

It comes after Harry and Meghan’s entourage were seen with a blue child-size scooter and wooden swing set which looked similar to the one gifted to William and Kate by Prince Charles. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear to have come home with presents from their family after they left the Platinum Jubilee before festivities ended on Sunday and missed the Queen on the balcony. 

A member of their team was seen carrying a wooden swing with rope coming out of it and covered by a blue wrapping as Harry and Meghan’s team loaded their luggage from Santa Barbara Airport as their private jet touched down on Sunday evening. 

Another assistant was seen reaching for a blue scooter that was sitting on top of a suitcase to put it into an SUV which further indicated that Lilibet and Archie, who were not seen during the Jubilee, accompanied their parents. 

It was also reported that the Queen did meet her namesake for the first time as the Sussexes joined Her Majesty on Thursday or Friday and was invited to Lilibet’s first birthday at Frogmore Cottage. 

During their visit to mark Her Majesty’s 70 year reign, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen rarely – once was at the Trooping of the Colour and another time at St Paul’s Thanksgiving Service – and had no official role during the festivities. 

In 2016, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s son Prince George was seen playfully enjoying a wooden swing set that bore his parents’ names William and Catherine. 

The wooden roped-set was a wedding present from Prince Charles to the couple and was installed in their countryside home in Norfolk. 

In pictures taken on Sunday of Harry and Meghan’s luggage being unloaded as they landed back in California yesterday, an assistant was also seen carrying a wooden swing after the couple spent most of their time at their Windsor residence. 

Harry was pictured looking particularly glum as they landed back in California yesterday – with royal experts saying the sixth in line to the throne appeared angry, anxious and very uncomfortable during ‘fleeting glimpses’ of him and his wife during the UK visit. 

On Thursday they were relegated to the Major General’s Office with minor royals for the Trooping the Colour, where they were photographed playfully shushing children. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have been ‘really fed up’ at being sidelined by the palace’s ‘men in suits’ they have been so scathing about since quitting in 2020, it has been claimed.

And as they were met with some booing at their only public appearance at St Paul’s on Friday, the couple will have learned that the British public believe being a royal is ‘about service, not about self’, one critic said. 

Harry stopped to chat for a few moments with the Archbishop of York at the Thanksgiving Service but was not seen greeting his brother Prince William and his sister-in-law Kate. 

Another told MailOnline: ‘Their attitude seems to be if we’re not centre stage we don’t really want to be here’

Instead they spent most of their stay at Frogmore Cottage with their children and hosted a ‘relaxed’ party for Lilibet’s first birthday at the Windsor residence, believed to be attended by the one-year-old’s British cousins.

The Sussexes arrived back in California at 6pm on Sunday. Equipment that appeared to be a high chair was seen being offloaded from the plane. Harry was then photographed in the passenger seat of a black Range Rover that had arrived to transport the family home, and looked very serious after almost five days away from the US.

The Duke and Duchess did not attend the Platinum Party and stayed in Windsor alongside the Queen to reportedly watch the concert with Her Majesty. 

Harry and Meghan then drove, according to The Sun, to Farnborough Airport at 1.30pm, an hour before the Pageant started at 2.30pm and made their way back to California.

This was hours before the Queen – who sources say was ‘determined’ to bravely overcame her painful mobility issues – returned to Buckingham Palace to personally thank the thousands of well-wishers in the crowd who had turned out to express their own gratitude.

She was flanked by her three heirs – son, Prince Charles, grandson, Prince William, and great-grandson, Prince George – offering a glimpse into the monarchy’s future.

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant was an afternoon of entertainment for members of the royal family, who all sat together alongside their siblings and cousins.

The parade told the story of her life, and the nation, with an eccentric, fun and imaginative carnival-like display.

An insider said: ‘There was no fanfare, they just went. They didn’t stick around for the Platinum Jubilee pageant which is a celebration of Britain and all of its quirks and eccentricities over the Queen’s 70 year reign.’

Before the festivities started an aide told The Telegraph: ‘The media might try to make them prominent, but in reality they are not going to be playing a prominent role. A line has been drawn.’

The 96-year-old monarch was absent for much of the extended Bank Holiday weekend, after finding the first day enjoyable but tiring, and in a message of thanks acknowledged this but said her ‘heart’ had been with well-wishers.

Surrounded by her family, including Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, George, Charlotte and Louis, she was cheered by thousands of well-wishers after stepping on to the balcony following the Platinum Pageant, which told the story of her life, and the nation, with an eccentric, fun and imaginative carnival-like display.

Smiling as she acknowledged the spectators, she looked down on The Mall where tens of thousands had waited in hope of seeing her.

The Queen said later in her message: ‘When it comes to how to mark seventy years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow. It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee.

‘While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.

‘I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come.

‘I thank you most sincerely for your good wishes and for the part you have all played in these happy celebrations.’

This was not her only surpises with her Paddington appearance seen as a much welcome appearance by the Queen.

A palace aide told the Sun: ‘As you saw she likes to spring a few surprises.’

After the outpouring of public affection during her balcony appearance, the Queen said she was ‘humbled and deeply touched’ so many people had taken part in marking her 70-year reign.

Investigative journalist Tom Bower, who is working on a biography of Meghan, told MailOnline that the Sussexes had been ‘trounced’ on their return to the UK.

He said: ‘I think Palace officials were unusually skilful in managing the Sussexes. Just enough exposure to please the Queen but at the same time so limited to show them that they have been sidelined. Harry’s grim expression exposed and confirmed the troubles he now faces. Meghan now faces problems about her status. Netflix are left with a problem: The Sussexes are no longer stars’.

Harry’s biographer Angela Levin said the couple were probably kept apart from Prince Charles and Prince William because of their ongoing rift and fears any private conversations could end up in Harry’s memoirs or on a US TV chat show.

She said: ‘I do wonder if they [Harry and Meghan] decided: ‘We’ve had enough of this, let’s go early’. I think they were furious. I think they believed they would come back and be welcomed with open arms – but the truth is that the world, and the Royal Family, has moved on without them. They thought that everyone would drop everything for them, but they didn’t’.

She added: ‘When Harry arrived at St Paul’s, he had a growling face. It was there throughout. They were really really fed up. William and Charles have grown closer – they have filled the gap left by Harry, that must be hard for him. I suspect his brother and father will have been worried about speaking to him in private in case it ends up in his memoirs or on US TV’.

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: ‘Their attitude seems to be if we’re not centre stage we don’t really want to be here.

‘They must realise they are no longer popular with the general public, and travelling in and out by private jet hardly helps their so-called green credentials.

‘I’m afraid that all the time Harry is writing a book and making Netflix fly on the wall programmes, Charles and William will not trust him. They would worry that any in depth conversations would be repeated in the media, and so I’m sure they are keeping him at arms length for the time’.

And after the Sussexes were met with some boos at St Paul’s on Friday, commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘This was about the Queen and the future of the monarchy, which they opted out of as senior working royals. Yet they owe their entire profile and contracts to the institution. This fabulous four days showed now strong it is and also how wrong they were to do the interview on Oprah, which caused it to lose support among the young and ethnic minorities and aired when Prince Philip was ill.

‘The Sussexes should have learnt a lesson over the last few days. When it actually comes to capturing hearts and minds it is about service, not about self’.