Meghan Markle and Prince Harry celebrate Lilibet's third birthday with private party in the US

Born in California, the three-year-old was named after Queen Elizabeth’s family nickname, whilst her middle name, Diana, “was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, the Princess of Wales”.

Her parents have tried to keep herself and her brother Archie, five, out of the limelight ever since they stepped down as working royals and settled in the US.

The only insight into the children’s birthdays the public has seen has been from the Sussexes' docuseries, Harry & Meghan, released in 2022 on Netflix. In the six-part series, footage from previous parties held for Archie and Lilibet can be seen.

During Prince Archie's fifth birthday festivities last month, Harry and Meghan did not release any new pictures or videos of the occasion.

In contrast, their cousins Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, mark their birthdays with new portraits every year.

The pictures are normally taken by their mother, the Princess of Wales, 42, who is a self-described “amateur photographer”.

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The Royal Family are not expected to make any public announcement for Lilibet’s birthday, as according to US Weekly, there is no “protocol” to wish non-working royals a happy birthday.

However, a party in the Montico home with some of Lilibet’s young friends in attendance, as reported by People, will likely be more than enough for the three-year-old Princess.

During their recent trip to Nigeria last month, Meghan opened up about her love of motherhood.

The Duchess co-hosted an event on Women in Leadership in Nigeria and spoke about the joys of raising children.

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“Being a mum has always been a dream of mine. And I'm so fortunate that we have two beautiful, healthy, very chatty sweet children,” she said.

She also recounted a sweet moment in Lilibet’s childhood whilst chatting to pupils at Lightway Academy in Abjua, which has been given funding by the couple’s Archewell Foundation.

She said: “Our daughter, Lili, she's much, much tinier than you guys. She's about to turn three, and a few weeks ago she looked at me and she would just see the reflection in my eyes.”

In a touching encounter, Lilibet replied to Meghan: “Mama, I see me in you.”