Overview
- Meghan Markle posted two never-before-seen family photos on Instagram to mark Princess Lilibet’s fifth birthday on Thursday, June 4, 2026, captioning them “Our dream girl. Happy 5th birthday, Lili.”
- Both images show Lilibet with her long red hair covering her face while Prince Harry and Meghan look on, and a second photo shows the child barefoot in the family garden wearing a pale sundress.
- A spokesperson for the Duchess told reporters that concealing the children’s faces is consistent with Meghan’s public campaigning on online harms and is meant to protect their identities and digital footprints.
- Critics and some royal commentators say the posts look inconsistent with the couple’s online-safety rhetoric and see the selective visibility as a deliberate, brand-friendly strategy tied to Meghan’s As Ever lifestyle profile.
- Observers note the choice could deepen internal and public tensions over privacy, with experts warning about AI and security risks and suggesting future coverage will track whether the Sussexes keep using tightly curated family images.