OLIVE BRANCH

The Queen has “invited Prince Harry for lunch at Windsor Castle” in what will be their first private meeting since he quit the Royal Family, according to sources.

The Duke of Sussex is said to be meeting with his grandmother for a “chance to talk things through” as he flies back to the UK for the unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue next month.

According to a courtier speaking to the Mail: “It’s a typically magnanimous gesture by Her Majesty.

“The lunch will be a chance for them to talk things through.”

FIVE MONTHS ORF

New dad Harry is taking five months’ paternity leave — giving the rest of us  a break from  the preachy prince bending our ears.

 Wife Meghan, 39, will have a similar work gap to Harry, 36, following the birth of daughter Lilibet.

One royal commentator   said last night: “Not being working royals any more, they are free to do what they want.”

The prince’s 20-week paternity break compares with just a fortnight’s paid leave for new dads back in the UK.

His near half-year absence eclipses the time out taken by his brother Prince William. 

HARRY’S DECISION TO CALL HIS NEWBORN LILIBET DIANA WILL FINALLY HELP HIM HEAL SAYS ANGELA LEVIN

It is wonderful news that Meghan and Harry have a baby sister for Archie.

The arrival of a healthy little Lilibet Diana is especially welcome because Meghan previously suffered a miscarriage.

Meghan says their baby girl is more than the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “could have imagined”, very touching.

And the choice of names could be Harry’s way of reminding everyone that his daughter is a Royal.

More on the opinion piece here.

COVID STRUGGLE

Kate Middleton said the Covid pandemic has “exacerbated” the struggles that families face in a conversation with a food bank volunteer.

The Duchess of Cambridge spoke to Sami, who began helping out at the Community Food Hub in Hackney, East London, while his partner Helen was working at one of the Nightingale Hospitals.

During his first day, photographer Grey Hutton was taking pictures of volunteers at the food hub as part of the National Geographic’s Covid Emergency Fund for Journalists when he decided to take a picture of Sami.

The image of Sami, which shows him standing outside of the food bank wearing PPE and smiling, is among 100 photographs chosen for Kate’s Hold Still project.

More on the story here.

ME, MYSELF AND DI

Prince Harry will be returning to the UK next month to reunite with his brother to unveil a statue of Princess Diana, according to an expert.

Now that his daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor has been born, it looks as though the duke will make the move to pay tribute to his beloved mother.

In the lead-up to the July 1 event, there has been speculation as to whether Harry would attend at all, one of the reasons being him not wanting to leave his heavily pregnant wife.

Meghan Markle gave birth to the couple’s second child, Lili, on Friday 4 June in California.

Roya Nikkhah, the Royal Editor at The Sunday Times, told Kay Burley on Sky: “I think we can expect to see him travel within the next few weeks and he is due to unveil that statue.”

OLIVE BRANCH

The Queen has “invited Prince Harry for lunch at Windsor Castle” in what will be their first private meeting since he quit the Royal Family, according to sources.

The Duke of Sussex is said to be meeting with his grandmother for a “chance to talk things through” as he flies back to the UK for the unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue next month.

According to a courtier speaking to the Mail: “It’s a typically magnanimous gesture by Her Majesty.

“The lunch will be a chance for them to talk things through.”

FIVE MONTHS ORF

New dad Harry is taking five months’ paternity leave — giving the rest of us  a break from  the preachy prince bending our ears.

 Wife Meghan, 39,  will have a similar work gap to Harry, 36, following the birth of daughter Lilibet.

One royal commentator   said last night: “Not being working royals any more, they are free to do what they want.”

The prince’s 20-week paternity break compares with just a fortnight’s paid leave for new dads back in the UK.

His near half-year absence eclipses the time out taken by his brother Prince William. 

HARRY’S DECISION TO CALL HIS NEWBORN LILIBET DIANA WILL FINALLY HELP HIM HEAL SAYS ANGELA LEVIN

It is wonderful news that Meghan and Harry have a baby sister for Archie.

The arrival of a healthy little Lilibet Diana is especially welcome because Meghan previously suffered a miscarriage.

Meghan says their baby girl is more than the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “could have imagined”, very touching.

And the choice of names could be Harry’s way of reminding everyone that his daughter is a Royal.

More on the opinion piece here.

COVID STRUGGLE

Kate Middleton said the Covid pandemic has “exacerbated” the struggles that families face in a conversation with a food bank volunteer.

The Duchess of Cambridge spoke to Sami, who began helping out at the Community Food Hub in Hackney, East London, while his partner Helen was working at one of the Nightingale Hospitals.

During his first day, photographer Grey Hutton was taking pictures of volunteers at the food hub as part of the National Geographic’s Covid Emergency Fund for Journalists when he decided to take a picture of Sami.

The image of Sami, which shows him standing outside of the food bank wearing PPE and smiling, is among 100 photographs chosen for Kate’s Hold Still project.

More on the story here.

ME, MYSELF AND DI

Prince Harry will be returning to the UK next month to reunite with his brother to unveil a statue of Princess Diana, according to an expert.

Now that his daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor has been born, it looks as though the duke will make the move to pay tribute to his beloved mother.

In the lead-up to the July 1 event, there has been speculation as to whether Harry would attend at all, one of the reasons being him not wanting to leave his heavily pregnant wife.

Meghan Markle gave birth to the couple’s second child, Lili, on Friday 4 June in California.

Roya Nikkhah, the Royal Editor at The Sunday Times, told Kay Burley on Sky: “I think we can expect to see him travel within the next few weeks and he is due to unveil that statue.”

REACHING OUT

Kate Middleton and Prince William have sent Meghan and Harry a gift to congratulate them on their new baby, it has been reported.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they were “delighted” with the arrival of Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, following her birth on Friday.

A source told US Weekly the Cambridges were “informed about the birth and have sent Lilibet a gift.”

And Wills and Kate wrote on Twitter: “We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie.”

NAME GAME

Lilibet is a touching nod to her great-grandmother the Queen, who was affectionately called the nickname by her family.

The couple also honoured Harry’s “beloved” late mother Princess Diana with the baby’s middle name.

In 2019 when Meghan was pregnant with her first born Archie, the pair hinted at the name they liked if they were to have a daughter.

While walking around in Birkenhead in January 2019, the Duchess revealed that she was six months pregnant – but that she didn’t know whether she was having a boy or girl yet.

But, Prince Harry was heard asking one mother from the crowd of people how her daughter Lily’s name was spelt – which is the name the Sussexes have now called their own baby.

At the time, Meghan insisted that they did not know the sex of their baby, which turned out to be little Archie.

GAYLE KING, SERENA WILLIAMS AND BEYONCE COULD ALSO MAKE CUT AS LILIBET’S GODMOTHER

Oprah is not the only “strong” woman in Meghan’s life who could make the cut.

Other A-list pals the couple have grown close to since their move to the US include morning TV host Gayle King. The presenter has become a mouthpiece for the couple – revealing in April it was “no secret” Harry and William’s relationship was “strained”.

Tennis ace Serena Williams, who was a guest at the couple’s wedding in 2018, could be picked after a seven-year friendship with Meghan.

The pair have been pals since meeting at a glitzy event and Meghan has been pictured supporting the champ at a string of tennis matches. Gushing Serena recently heaped praise on the former actress’ “strength and poise” – claiming she was the “strongest person I know”.

Megastar Beyonce could also be in the picture after she also praised Meghan for speaking out in her Oprah interview.

SWEET PHOTOS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AS BABIES, INCLUDING MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY AND PRINCESS DIANA

Meghan Markle has confirmed she has given birth to daughter Lilibet “Lili” Diana and royal fans are desperate to get a glimpse of the newborn baby now she has arrived.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex previously announced they are keeping the birth private, but fans are hoping the couple will now release a sweet photo of the baby within the days following her birth.

Sweet pictures emerged of Meghan as a baby, being bounced on the knee of mum Doria Ragland.

LA-based yoga teacher Doria used to refer to her adorable daughter as “Flower” when she was a tot.

Meghan may not be posing on the steps outside of her maternity ward or home, but Kate Middleton revealed her three children in this way.

Posing on the steps of the lavish £7,500-a-night Lindo Wing, she proudly showed off Prince George in 2013, Princess Charlotte in 2015 and Prince Louis last year.

MEGHAN MARKLE HAS A £4,800 CARTIER WATCH SHE PLANS TO GIVE TO HER BABY GIRL

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed the arrival of their baby girl, named Lilibet “Lili” Diana, in a statement two days after her birth on 4 June.

Meghan bought the pricey Cartier Tank Française after learning Suits – the television programme she starred in – had been commissioned for a third season.

And back in 2015, Meghan said she hopes to one day pass down her £4,800 Cartier watch to her daughter.

The Duchess previously told Hello: “When I found out Suits had been picked up for our third season – which, at the time, felt like such a milestone – I totally splurged and bought the two-tone version [of the watch].”

She continued: “I had it engraved on the back, ‘To M.M. From M.M.’

‘ALL MY LOVE’

Meghan Markle’s estranged dad Thomas Markle has said he is “very pleased” about the birth of his granddaughter.

After the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the birth of daughter Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor he wished them “all my love”.

The 76-year-old retired Hollywood lighting engineer and his daughter have been estranged over claims that he staged photos in return for cash.

Meghan Markle had her second child at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on Friday at 11.40am.

“I’m very pleased that my daughter and my new granddaughter had a successful delivery,” Thomas told The Sun Online.

“I wish them all my love and the best of luck.”

HOW DID MEGHAN AND HARRY ANNOUNCE PREGNANCY?

The announcement came almost a year after Meghan revealed the “unbearable grief” she and Harry had suffered when she had a miscarriage last July. 

The Duchess of Sussex said she had decided to speak out about her loss because miscarriage was still a taboo subject which led to a “cycle of solitary mourning”.

And the couple, who currently live with two-year-old son Archie in Santa Barbara, California, later announced on Valentines Day that they were expecting their second child.

They shared a black and white picture of themselves under a tree, with a shoeless Harry resting his hand on Meghan’s head as she cradled her bump.

Delivering the news, the proud parents said: “We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother.”

LILIBET SET TO HAVE A-LIST PLAYMATES

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s newborn baby daughter Lilibet Diana is set to enjoy a host of A-list play dates with the likes of Katy Perry and Serena Williams’ kids.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced today that the baby girl was born on Friday, the first of Queens’s great-grandchildren to be born outside of the UK.

After Meghan and Harry’s permanent relocation to their $14millon mansion in Montecito, California, Lilibet is set to spend more time with the children of A-list celebrities than a circle of cousins in the UK.

Among them are Orlando Bloom, 44, and Katy Perry, 36, who welcomed their daughter Daisy Dove in August 2020.

Harry claims that he and Bloom became close after the actor tipped him off to a photographer in the area.

He says the pair “keep in touch” over text.

ROYAL FAMILY TWEETS CONGRATULATIONS TO MEGHAN & HARRY

Following the Buckingham Palace statement, the Royal Family Twitter account posted a message of congratulations to Harry and Meghan, alongside a picture of them on their wedding day.

It said: “Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of Lilibet Diana!

“The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted with the news. Lilibet is Her Majesty’s 11th great-grandchild.”

WATCH: PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE TO TAKE PARENTAL LEAVE

MEGHAN AND HARRY WANT WELL-WISHERS TO DONATE TO WOMEN’S CHARITY

The couple has asked people not to send them gifts following the birth of Lilibet.

Instead they asked them to give cash to and learn about Girls Inc, Harvest Home, CAMFED and the Myna Mahila Foundation.

The four charities support women’s issues from education to homeless pregnancies to menstrual hygiene.

Meghan has worked with them previously.

MEGHAN MARKLE GIVES BIRTH TO BABY GIRL AT SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL IN LA AFTER ‘HOME BIRTH PLANS’

Meghan Markle has given birth to a baby girl at a hospital in Los Angeles – after sources previously said there were plans for a home birth.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had their second child at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on Friday at 11.40am, it was announced today.

This comes after it was previously reported Meghan was planning a home birth at her luxury LA mansion.

The Duchess of Sussex was initially said to be planning to deliver her daughter at home in the early summer.

But their daughter was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital instead – as Meghan seemed to ditch the idea to have a home birth. Lilibet Diana, named in tribute to the Queen and Princess Diana, is the first royal to be born in the US.