Princess Lilibet makes rare appearance in sweet photo shared by Meghan Markle’s best friend

Princess Lilibet has made a rare appearance in a new glimpse into Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s life in the UK.

The five-year-old was pictured alongside Kelly McKee Zajfen, one of Meghan Markle’s close friends, and Zajfen’s six-month-old son, Jack, during a recent visit to the Sussexes.

Zajfen shared the images on Instagram on September 23 after spending time with Meghan and her family in Britain. The post offered an unusually personal look at the family’s quieter life since their return to the UK on August 26.

Lilibet joins Kelly and baby Jack

In one of the photographs from the visit, Lilibet can be seen spending time with Zajfen and baby Jack.

The young princess was dressed in a pink, princess-style dress as she played with the baby, who was holding a squeaky giraffe. Zajfen stayed close by, smiling as the two children interacted.

The moment gave a rare glimpse of Lilibet away from the carefully controlled family images that have accompanied the Sussexes’ return to Britain.

Zajfen’s visit also included plenty of time with Meghan and Harry. In another photograph, Meghan is seen sitting with Jack at a pub table, while Harry is pictured playing with the baby on the floor inside the family’s home. Other images from the trip showed Zajfen enjoying time with Meghan and friends in the UK.

Kelly McKee Zajfen reflects on her UK visit

Alongside the photographs, Zajfen wrote warmly about experiencing Britain with Meghan and her young son.

She described having the chance to see this new chapter of Meghan’s life through her eyes and said she particularly enjoyed sharing Jack’s first experiences with her.

“Family time is just what the heart ordered,” she wrote, mentioning mashed peas and fish and chips as part of the trip.

Zajfen also thanked the people they had met during their time in Britain for being welcoming toward Meghan. She said the experience had left her with a full heart and ended her message with a cheerful “Cheerio!”

The visit appears to have been a meaningful one for Meghan, who has largely stayed out of the public eye since moving back to Britain with Harry and their children.

A quieter start to life in Britain

Harry, Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet returned to the UK on August 26 after spending six years living in California. The family has been keeping details of their new home private, and Archie and Lilibet have made only occasional appearances since the move.

One of the clearest glimpses of their new life came through Meghan’s social media, where she shared footage of Archie and Lilibet enjoying the British countryside.

In the video described in the original post, Lilibet, with her red hair tied into a bun, rode a bicycle decorated with pink tassels along a tree-lined path. Archie ran alongside her, while a herd of deer could be seen in the distance.

Lilibet wore small Wellington boots, while Archie wore a pink top and bright blue knee-high socks.

The family has otherwise maintained a relatively private profile as the children adjust to their new surroundings.

Archie and Lilibet had to change schools

The transition to life in Britain has not been completely straightforward.

Just two days after Archie and Lilibet began at their first UK school, Harry and Meghan decided to move them to another school following discussions with their security team.

A spokesperson for the couple said the decision was based on the practicalities of the family’s security arrangements and stressed that it was not a reflection of the school or its staff. The parents remained grateful for the care the children had received.

Reports subsequently pointed to the distance between the family’s home and the school, together with heavy traffic in the area, as factors behind the concerns.

According to ITV News, the family’s security vehicle became separated from the car carrying Harry, Meghan and the children during one school run after traffic became congested. The incident highlighted the difficulty of maintaining the family’s security arrangements along a regular school route.

Reuters likewise reported that the security team had raised concerns about the transportation risks associated with the distance and traffic between the family’s home and the original school.

The children have since started at a new school in the UK, allowing the family to continue settling into life in Britain.

A rare window into the Sussexes’ family life

Against that backdrop, Zajfen’s photographs offered a relaxed glimpse of the Sussexes away from public engagements.

Harry has returned to several public events since the family’s move, while Meghan has largely focused on settling the children into their new surroundings. Harry said recently that the family’s first weeks back in Britain had been “eventful” but that they were happy and settling in.

For Lilibet, the latest photograph was another fleeting appearance in a period when her parents have continued to keep their children’s lives largely private.

This time, however, the moment came naturally through a family friend’s visit, with Lilibet simply spending time with baby Jack as her parents adjusted to a new chapter in the UK.