Happy Birthday Princess Lilibet! How the Sussexes will celebrate Lili turning 2

As Princess Lilibet celebrates her second birthday, her parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will undoubtedly celebrate the occasion in an unforgettable way.

Having been born in June 2021 when the Sussexes lived in Montecito, California, Lilibet Diana has spent most of her life in the US and has only met her father’s side of the family once – during Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee last year, which fell on her first birthday.

A royal expert has claimed that, after celebrating her first birthday party at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, Lili’s second birthday will be an ‘all-American affair’.

While few details about the young princess’s life have been shared by the Sussexes, it emerged earlier this year that she had been baptized in an intimate ceremony with a party at the Sussexes’ £12 million ($14 million) mansion.

And last year, adorable photos of Lilibet celebrating her summer birthday in the grounds of Frogmore Cottage were shared with friends – including friend of the Sussexes, photographer Misan Harriman.

Royal expert Jennie Bond told OK! magazine Lilibet’s second birthday could be a star-studded affair in the US.

She said: ‘I’m expecting some celebrities and a relaxed party, which will hopefully include some other toddlers.

“It would be nice to think that the day could include a video call with Lilibet’s grandfather, King Charles, and hopefully some sort of gift has been arranged and will be delivered to Montecito for her birthday.”

In March, the Sussexes confirmed that Princess Lilibet had been baptized in Montecito, California, after People magazine reported an “intimate” gathering at the Sussexes’ mansion.

It was also confirmed that King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales were invited to the event but did not attend.

Photos shared by friend of the Sussexes and professional photographer Misan Harriman include a photo of Meghan holding Lilibet as she stands next to the photographer’s wife, Camilla Holmstroem, and their two daughters

Lilibet’s stunning birthday cake, decorated with peonies, had the same taste as at the Sussex family wedding, but was topped with strawberry buttercream

People reported that there were between 20 and 30 guests at the event, including Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland and Lilibet’s godfather Tyler Perry.

They were serenaded by a gospel choir, believed to have sung Oh Happy Day and This Little Light of Mine – a song that was played at Meghan and Harry’s wedding.

Meanwhile, an insider revealed that after the ceremony, “those in attendance were treated to an afternoon of food and dancing – while Archie enjoyed a dance with his little sister!”

While senior members of the royal family were not in attendance, some of Lili’s paternal relatives were reportedly at the intimate bash, according to reports at the time.

Princess Diana’s older sisters, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, were among the guests. Mary Claire reported.

Both Harry and William have been very close to their maternal uncle and aunt since Princess Diana’s death in 1997.

The Duke of Sussex was last photographed with his aunts in 2021 when he and the Prince of Wales unveiled a statue of their late mother together at Kensington Palace.

Both Harry and William were pictured warmly greeting Lady Sarah and Lady Jane with kisses and hugs.

Few details were given about Lilibet’s christening, but it was held at Harry and Meghan’s luxurious, posh Santa Barbara, California home, which royal fans got a glimpse of in the couple’s Netflix documentary. Pictured: Meghan with Lilibet as a newborn

At this time last year, the Sussexes held a ‘relaxed’ first birthday party for Lilibet in the garden of Frogmore Cottage, with a birthday cake, balloons, board games and picnic snacks.

Those also reported to have 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 reportedly invited.

The gifts apparently included a pastel pink VW Beetle ride-on car, £75 from Selfridges, while Sussex supporters donated $100,000 to charity in her honor. Prince Charles may have bought her a swing similar to one he bought for Prince George – after an aide to the Sussexes saw him unload from their private jet in Santa Barbara.

Photos from the event include a lovely shot of the toddler sitting on the lawn outside Frogmore Cottage, smiling in the sunshine, taken by Misan Harriman.

Another photo from the event showed Meghan wearing Lilibet as they posed with the photographer’s wife, Camilla Holmstroem, a former Goldman Sachs banker turned entrepreneur, and their two daughters, who both had their faces painted, one of the activities organized for the guests.

But while Mr. Harriman also shared a photo of him laughing with his eldest child on Instagram and Twitter, no photos of Harry and Archie were released.

East London baker Claire Ptak – who baked the couple’s wedding cake in 2018 – created new treats for the low-key party. She later shared a photo of a small peony-covered cake for guests to enjoy.

In another post, Claire revealed a second photo of the three-layer cake with her name written on a flag stuck into the dessert.

She revealed it was flavored with lemon and elderflower, the same as the Sussexes’ wedding cake in 2018, but topped with strawberry buttercream especially for the birthday girl.