Princess Lilibet's blue birthday dress chosen by Meghan Markle has emotional meaning

Princess Lilibet’s blue dress, which she wore on her first birthday, has been revealed to hold deeper meaning.

Turning three today, Lilibet was captured in 2022 wearing a light blue outfit designed by California creator Isabel Garreton, who closed her company shortly after, in a picture shared by parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

To celebrate the occasion, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex organised a special birthday picnic at Frogmore Cottage.

The dress, which came with a matching bonnet and pants, and was accessorised with a white ribbon in Lilibet’s hair, was a startlingly similar colour to an outfit worn by none other than a young Prince Harry.

Shortly after the event, Garreton shared that her company, which was founded in part to "support the advancement of underprivileged women" and help to break "the cycle of poverty", was shutting down that same year.

She said at the time: "In the coming month we will be closing Isabel Garreton, Inc., the company I founded over 30 years ago with one goal in mind: to provide a dignified work opportunity to underprivileged women through the development of a finely designed and crafted collection of children’s clothing.

"The staying power of Isabel Garreton as a brand, the number and exclusivity of its loyal customers accumulated over 30 years, presence in the best stores in the country and the absence of debt generated serious interest in the Isabel Garreton brand.

"We entertained offers but decided against selling the brand because it is my name and no interested parties convinced me they would continue the ethical manufacturing approach that has defined who we are."

Lilibet’s first birthday came shortly after the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, where Harry and Meghan had kept a relatively low profile. Instead of joining in on the festivities, the Sussexes planned a private event to celebrate their daughter’s birth.

The picnic was reportedly a small, intimate gathering, attended by close family and friends such as Zara and Mike Tindall. Activities included face painting and other games for children.

The picture of Lilibet was released as the toddler returned with the rest of her family to their US home, marking an early departure from the bank holiday celebrations.

This picture is one of the rare images of Lilibet released to the public, now three years old, who has been kept out of the public eye by her parents.