Royal family news – live: Sussexes release photograph of daughter Lilibet after arriving in US
Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s daughter turns one during her first trip to the UK
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released a picture of their daughter Lilibet after celebrating her first birthday.
The photograph of Lilibet, who celebrated the occasion with family and close friends of the Sussexes at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor on Saturday, is understood to have been taken by family friend Misan Harriman.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s second child, born on 4 June 2021 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.
The couple have been “incredibly touched” by the birthday wishes that have flooded in for Lilibet.
More than 100,000 dollars (£79,800) in donations to the World Central Kitchen were made in her honour by people around the world, for which the Duke and Duchess have also expressed their gratitude.
It follows reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had returned to the US following a short trip to the UK for the jubilee celebrations.
The early departure means the Sussexes missed the finale of the festivities, which saw the Queen make a surprise appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the royal standard flag was raised above the residence during the pageant.
Royal mint unveils largest-ever 15kg gold coin for Queen’s platinum jubilee
The Royal Mint has created a 15kg gold coin in celebration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
The special coin, which is the largest to ever be produced in the mint’s 1,100-year history, has a diameter of 220cm.
Saman Javed reports:
Royal mint unveils largest-ever 15kg gold coin for Queen’s platinum jubilee
The coin took 400 hours to make
Where will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stay during the platinum jubilee?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have confirmed they will be attending Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations along with their two children this month.
The scheduled June visit to the UK will mark the first time the 96-year-old monarch has met the couple’s daughter, Lilibet Diana, 11 months.
But where will the Sussexes stay when they are here? Chelsea Ritschel investigates:
Where will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stay during Queen’s Platinum Jubilee?
Sussexes will attend Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations with their two children in June
Which platinum jubilee events will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend?
With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attending the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations next week, you may be wondering which events they will be present for.
My colleague Saman Javed has the answers:
Queen’s platinum jubilee: Which events will Harry and Meghan attend?
The couple have confirmed they will return to the UK for the celebrations
70 fun facts about the Queen
To celebrate Her Majesty’s milestone, Buckingham Palace has released 70 facts about the Queen to celebrate her seven-decade reign.
From becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history, to her first trip on the London Underground, and details from her wedding to Prince Philip, here are some things you might not know about Queen Elizabeth II.
70 facts about the Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee
Her Majesty is celebrating her seven-decade reign this year
From Salad Queen to LamQueeni, all the jubilee-themed food you can buy
Nothing says “70 years on the throne” quite like “Salad Queen” and “LamQueenie”, among countless other jubilee specials that have emerged to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s long reign – the longest of any British monarch.
With the Queen’s big platinum jubilee weekend drawing ever closer, brands have released a plethora of royal-themed food and drink products to mark Her Majesty’s historic milestone. We’ve rounded them all up for your jubilee feasting needs:
From Salad Queen to LamQueeni, all the jubilee-themed food you can buy
The Queen’s platinum jubilee celebratory weekend will take place at the start of June
Wax figures of Harry and Meghan rejoin royal family at Madam Tussauds
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have rejoined the royal family at Madame Tussauds to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
Waxwork figures of the main family members have received a black tie makeover in preparation for the event marking the monarch’s 70-year reign on 5 June.
The reunion at the London attraction brings the Sussexes back together publicly with the family for the first time since their move to the US in 2020.
Meghan’s waxwork has been dressed in a red, caped Safiyaa gown, which she wore on one of her last royal engagements at the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in London in March 2020.
The Queen’s waxwork, which is the 23rd of 24 created of the monarch by Madame Tussauds London across her 70-year reign, has been dressed in a recreation of the garment she wore in her official Diamond Jubilee portrait.
The white and silver lace dress is covered in 53,000 Swarovski elements, completed with a blue silk sash and topped off by a replica of the diamond and pearl George IV State Diadem.
Royal fans can also view the Royal Dress Collection that will be on display at Madame Tussauds London from 27 May, showcasing seven gowns that have graced some of the Queen’s 24 figures created during her 70-year reign.
PA
Huge 70-ft ‘Tree of Trees’ sculpture erected outside Buckingham Palace
A tree-like structure measuring 70-feet high, with 350 native British trees adorning its “branches”, has been erected outside Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
The huge sculpture was completed on Tuesday. It was designed by architect and designer Thomas Heatherwick, who said Her Majesty herself gave approval for the plans with a “big thumbs up”.
To help complete the sculpture, junior foresters visited the palace and planted a batch of six-foot saplings in pots that had the monarch’s cypher embossed on them.
They also helped weave LED lights through the structure, which will serve as the principal beacon on the first evening of the bank holiday weekend.
A massive team of hundreds of welders, arborists, engineers and fabricators have been working on the project, which Heatherwick said he designed in just one week.
Heatherwick told ITV News: “This sculpture acts like a beacon sending one simple, eternal message that trees are the superheroes of our towns and cities and matter much more to our lives than we realise.
“We need reminding [of] how much trees humanise the world around us and they can’t be taken for granted.
“The tree twists and spirals symbolically spraying an array of 350 baby trees towards their final homes across the country - a symbol of the much bigget initiative of planting.”
All the food and drink deals over the platinum jubilee bank holiday
The platinum jubilee weekend will be packed with deals and discounts from food and drink retailers across the country.
From 25 per cent off instant grocery delivery to a competition where £500 vouchers are up for grabs, we’ve rounded up all the offers you could benefit from as the bank holiday approaches.
All the food and drink deals over the platinum jubilee bank holiday
The nation will mark the Queen’s seven decade-long reign in June
That’s a wrap on our live coverage of the Queen and the royal family today. See you tomorrow, when we return to bring you further updates on the platinum jubilee weekend.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments