It’s Prince Harry’s Independence Day: Duke underlines split from The Firm as he takes two-year-old daughter Lilibet (who hasn’t seen her grandfather Charles for a year) to a July 4th parade near their Montecito home hours before King’s Scottish Coronation
- Princess Lilibet was seen in the Duke of Sussex’s arms for the Montecito parade
- It came just hours before one of the most important days of his father’s rule
Princess Lilibet has been pictured with Prince Harry at an Independence Day parade in Montecito just hours before her grandfather King Charles III attended his second Coronation ceremony in Edinburgh.
The Duke of Sussex appeared to underline his retirement from The Firm as he took her to the California celebration on July 4, as the US marked its independence from British rule.
But as he was showing two-year-old Lilibet the Montecito Association’s Village Road Show, his father King Charles was preparing for one of the most important moments of his rule: a second Coronation in the country his beloved second son once called home.
Accompanied by family members including Prince Harry’s own brother Prince William, the King and Queen Camilla were honoured in a prestigious event at St Giles’ Cathedral, attended by senior royals. But the Duke himself was nowhere to be seen.
Prince Harry did attend his father’s official Coronation, the first in the UK in 70 years, but was only on UK soil for a matter of hours before he returned to the US to celebrate his son Archie’s birthday, which fell on the same day.
Prince Harry carries daughter Lilibet as they enjoy a father daughter outing on the 4th of July near his home in Montecito
The Duke of Sussex was seen keeping a low profile as he stood among crowds celebrating Independence Day in the US
Queen Camilla, King Charles III, the Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotland, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh on Wednesday
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex previously released this picture of Lilibet at Frogmore Cottage where she celebrated her first birthday
His American wife Meghan Markle and two children remained in the US at their Montecito home.
Sources previously said the decision by Meghan to remain in California had come as a relief in some circles, following fears her presence could have heightened family tensions.
The Duke of Sussex was pictured introducing his youngest child to the American holiday, which sees countless US flags, cheering crowds and parties across the nation.
Carrying his precious daughter in his arms, Harry appeared to be trying to keep a low profile as he wore blue jeans, a green shirt, green cap pulled over his face and sunglasses.
Princess Lilibet wore a blue dress, white socks and red shoes, and was seen peering out at the motorcade as it passed.
The parade the royal attended featured vehicles decorated in Independence Day-themed memorabilia – but it came just a matter of hours before one of the biggest days in his father’s life.
MailOnline earlier reported it was not believed the Duke would be in the UK to attend the event in a possible sign of how frosty relations between the two sides of the Atlantic remain.
Princess Lilibet was dressed in a blue summer dress, white socks and red shoes with two pigtails in her hair
Prince Harry’s public appearance came just a few hours before his father had a second Coronation ceremony in Edinburgh
He was seen holding his precious daughter tightly as the motorcade passed
During the service of thanksgiving and dedication for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the Honours of Scotland (the Scottish crown jewels) were presented to the new King
The ceremony in Scotland comes eight weeks after the Coronation in London on May 6
The Montecito parade saw brightly coloured cars take part with USA-themed decorations
Many of the vehicles taking part were vintage as Lilibet enjoyed her first Independence Day on US soil
As well as vintage cars, emergency service vehicles also joined the motorcade
Charles was today presented with the crown jewels of Scotland in a historic thanksgiving service, that came eight weeks after his Coronation in London.
The monarch received the Crown of Scotland, the Sceptre and the Sword of State of the Honours of Scotland at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
In echoes of his Coronation in London in May, crowds of thousands of people gathered to cheer their new monarch as he took part in the sacred celebrations, watched by Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Spectators watched a people’s procession make its way from Edinburgh Castle to the cathedral – a group around 100 strong, reflecting all aspects of Scottish society from the arts and politics, to education, civil society and business, including charities which the King supports as patron.
But the King’s younger son was nowhere to be seen as he instead spent time with his young children.
The King has only met his youngest grandchild once, at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Being born in June 2021, Lilibet has spent her entire life in California where the Sussexes moved after they withdrew from royal life.
Lilibet (pictured right with brother Archie and parents Harry and Meghan) has visited the UK on one occasion for the Platinum Jubilee in 2022
She has visited the UK on once occasion for the jubilee, and also celebrated her first birthday with a picnic at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
In March, the Sussexes confirmed Princess Lilibet had been christened in Montecito, California, after reports of an ‘intimate’ gathering at the Sussexes’ mansion appeared in People Magazine.
It was also confirmed that King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales were invited to the event but did not attend.
In May, Prince Harry arrived in the UK for a day to watch his father be crowned amid a high-profile feud between himself and Meghan Markle and the rest of the Royal Family.
The Duke of Sussex seemed keen to put on a jovial display at Westminster Abbey as he chatted to Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and their husbands Jack Brooksbank and Edo Mapelli Mozzi.
It followed months of turmoil following the publication of Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare, which left some members of the family, most notably his brother William, reeling.
The Prince has demanded an apology from members of his family over the way he says they have treated his wife.
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