It appears the frosty relationship between the Sussexes and the Cambridges continued during the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, with the estranged princes and their families apparently spending little to no private time together.
Prince Harry and Meghan reportedly extended an “olive branch” to Prince William and Kate, inviting them to Lilibet’s birthday picnic at Frogmore Cottage, but they did not attend.
Instead, the busy Cambridges – with their children Charlotte, 7, and George, 8 – went on a day trip to Wales as part of the Jubilee celebrations.
That meant the Cambridge kids couldn’t meet baby Lilibet or catch up with their cousin Archie.
“Things are always tense – William is always wary of spending time alone with Harry because you never really know what may come back next,” a UK-based royal insider told Page Six.
Prince Harry and Meghan flew in from their US home to attend the four-day Jubilee celebrations, but kept a relatively low profile.
The Sussexes were not allowed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Color on the first day of the festivities, instead they watched with other royals from the Major General’s office overlooking Horse Guards Parade .
And, they were greeted with cheers and boos as they joined the Royal Family at a service of thanksgiving for the Queen at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
It was their first public appearance together in Britain since stepping down from royal duties.
The Sussexes spent a lot of time at Frogmore Cottage during their stay. It is understood the Queen, Lilibet’s great-grandmother, met the royal toddler for the first time and saw her twice during their visit.
The Queen reportedly banned Harry and Meghan from having a photographer attend her first face-to-face meeting with her namesake.
Some members of the royal family are said to have feared that footage of the meeting could end up on Netflix or another US television network.
The family returned to the United States an hour before the start of the last major jubilee event.
Back home safely, the Sussexes will be busy unpacking their luggage, including a stash of gifts for Lilibet.
Children’s toys – including what is believed to be Prince Charles and Camilla’s royal toddler birthday present – have been spotted being unloaded from Meghan and Harry’s private jet.
Notably, one of the packages appeared to be a wooden swing, which almost looked like a swing given to William and Kate as a wedding present from Charles and Camilla.
On Tuesday, the Sussexes approved the release of a new photo of Lilibet to mark her first birthday.
In the adorable snap, a smiley Lilibet is seen wearing a blue romper with a white bow in her auburn hair.
It was one of a series of photos taken during his picnic at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor taken by professional photographer and family friend Misan Harriman.
Zara and Mike Tindall’s children, Mia, 8, Lena, 3, and Lucas, 1, as well as Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly’s daughters, Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10, were on the list of Lilibet’s birthday party guests.
Archie’s godfather, Charlie Van Straubenzee, and his brother Tom, who is Princess Charlotte’s godfather, according to The Sun, were also invited.
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