Lilibet’s Birthday Photo Reveals A Royal Childhood Divide

Lilibet and Charlotte are both King Charles III’s granddaughters, but they live very different lives. Recently, Meghan Markle posted a photo of Lilibet on her birthday, reminding us all of that. We got two pictures, one of Lilibet being lovingly held by her father, Prince Harry, with both of her parents beaming at her, and another of Lilibet in a grassy garden. She’s barefoot in both pictures, wearing a lovely pale green sundress, and her long red hair is covering her face. The caption says “Our dream girl.” Harry and Meghan have a unique privilege of keeping their children’s privacy, something that other royals can only dream of. So when Meghan posts a rare photo of her kids, it’s a huge deal, even if we can’t see their faces.

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Now let’s compare it to what it’s like for Princess Charlotte. For her birthday, which is only a month before Lilibet’s, her parents, Prince William and Princess Catherine, also posed a photo of her on Instagram. She’s also standing in a garden, but she’s facing a camera, and her pose suggests that she’s very familiar with taking pictures for the public, having to be seen by millions of people. The way she’s dressed also tells a different story. Yes, she’s wearing jeans, which isn’t exactly what she wears to public royal outings, but her collared shirt under a sweater and the overall vibe are more preppy than relaxed and casual.

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