Paul Burrell says queen was left hanging with a birthday cake for Lilibet (Image: Getty)
The Queen was left hanging with a cake and candle that “was never lit” for her namesake grandchild's first birthday, according to former royal butler Paul Burrell.
Queen Elizabeth II had 12 great-grandchildren including her youngest, her namesake Lilibet.
The daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated her first birthday on June 4 2022 - and her family returned to the UK for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
But according to Burrell the Queen didn’t get to see her granddaughter on her birthday.
“Even on Lilibet's first birthday the Queen didn't see her,” Burrell told The Mirror.
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The candle on the Queen's cake for Lilibet was left unlit according to Burrell (Image: Shutterstock)
“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.”
Instead the family celebrated Lilibet’s birthday at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor with a backyard picnic.
That day, the Queen was set to attend the Epsom Derby in Surrey as part of the jubilee celebrations but was forced to cancel due to her ongoing mobility issues.
“The next day she asked if maybe they'd like to come up for tea again and was told they've gone,” Burrell remembers.
“‘What do you mean they've gone?’ she said. They’ve gone back to America. ‘Oh no, they never said goodbye’.”
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Burrell says the Queen was “confused” by the slight and the family’s decision to leave so quickly.
He said: “How could you offend our Queen? Well, I don't understand anyone that could do that. Not her family, why would you want to?
“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.”
But, he said, the Sussexes will most certainly be thinking about the Queen today (Friday, September 8) a year on from her passing.
He added: “Even Harry and Meghan, in Los Angeles will be thinking about the Queen on her anniversary because Harry was a particular favourite.”
The name Lilibet originated from the Queen not being able to say Elizabeth properly as a toddler.
Princess Lilibet’s middle name is Diana - a tribute to Harry’s mother, the late Princess of Wales.
Burrell says he always had a “communication” with the Queen until the end of her life.
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