A former employee of Queen Elizabeth II claimed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle snubbed the late monarch’s invitation to celebrate Princess Lilibet’s 1st birthday with her. “Even on Lilibet’s 1st birthday, the Queen didn’t see her,” the Queen’s onetime footman Paul Burrell told the Mirror in an interview published Friday. “She saw her the day before. But on her birthday, the Queen had a birthday cake made with one candle in it. And they never turned up. That candle was never lit.” However, a source tells Page Six there is “no truth” to Burrell’s claims.
“They did see the Queen to celebrate Lili’s birthday,” the “They did see the Queen to celebrate Lili’s birthday,” the insider says.That same day, the Queen — who died on Sept. 8, 2022, at the age of 96 — was scheduled to attend the Epsom Derby in Surrey as part of the jubilee festivities but was forced to pull out due to her ongoing health issues. According to Burrell, the sovereign had invited Harry and Markle to celebrate Lilibet’s birthday but was snubbed. “The next day, she asked if maybe they’d like to come up for tea again and was told they’ve gone,” the ex-Buckingham Palace staffer claimed. “‘What do you mean they’ve gone?’ she said.
‘They’ve gone back to America.’ ‘Oh no, they never said goodbye.’”Burrell further claimed the Queen was “confused” that Harry and Markle, who also share 4-year-old son Prince Archie, decided to leave London so quickly. “How could you offend our Queen? Well, I don’t understand anyone that could do that. Not her family, why would you want to?” he said. “She was devoid of jealousy, anger, envy, all those traits that we associate with other people she didn’t have. She was just a very simple soul. I wish the world could have known her the way I knew her.” Still, the Queen publicly shared her birthday wishes for her great-granddaughter via social media.Harry’s estranged brother, Prince William, also celebrated Lilibet’s milestone birthday. He and his wife, Kate Middleton, tweeted, “Wishing a very happy birthday to Lilibet, turning one today! ????.”However, the Prince and Princess of Wales were not as keen on celebrating the Sussexes’ daughter’s 2nd birthday this year amid rising tensions between the brothers.
