“Summer vacation,” Meghan Markle (Los Angeles, 44) wrote next to a sun emoji in her latest Instagram post — where she has 4.7 million followers — this Thursday, July 23. The post, as always closed to comments, includes 12 photos of the Sussexes’ family vacation with their children: Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five. The collection covers their journey through Europe, with stops in Portugal and the United Kingdom, including an emotional visit to Althorp, the historic mansion where Princess Diana spent her childhood and her final resting place. In this particular image, taken by Meghan, Lilibet is seen walking along the famous tree-lined avenue of the Northampton estate, near the private island where Diana is buried. Ahead of her are Harry and Archie, all three carrying large bouquets of flowers to lay, presumably, on Princess Diana’s grave and at the nearby memorial.
The Duchess and the children traveled by private plane to London in early July, after their European vacation, but made no public appearances. They were received by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Highgrove, this being the first time the monarch had seen his grandchildren since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Prince Harry, who was also present — his third meeting with his father, Charles, since his cancer diagnosis in February 2024 — had already been in his home country for several days, having flown there alone, for preparations for the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027. However, his trip to the British capital turned bittersweet after he lost his lawsuit against the Daily Mail on July 7 for unlawfully obtaining information, as there was deemed insufficient evidence.
Even so, the collection of photos Meghan has decided to share with her followers is a succession of happy family moments. The carousel begins with a black and white snapshot of her and Prince Harry laughing during a dinner. This is followed by photos of mother and daughter walks on the beach, Archie contemplating a sunset in the countryside, or restaurant signs in Alentejo (Portugal). Also widely commented on are images of Archie in the cockpit of a plane or Harry tossing Lilibet into the air in a swimming pool. In another, Harry heads towards the rough sea waves with his children running after him, while Meghan watches from the shore.
View this post on Instagram
The children appear with their backs to the camera in all photographs, a common practice for Meghan to protect their privacy. The Duchess, who is nominated for an Emmy for her Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, has also published a photo of herself lying face down on a sun lounger, looking directly at her dog.
Read more Judge Calama summons Plus Ultra executives who implicated Zapatero in the bailout
It is not the first time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have visited Diana, Princess of Wales’s grave together. In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Prince Harry described the first time he took Meghan to see it, in 2022. The late princess, mother of Prince Harry and Prince William, is buried on an island in the center of the artificial lake known as The Round Oval, within the garden of Althorp Park.
“Bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet Mum,” Harry describes the moment they approached by boat. “We hesitated for a moment, hugged, and then I went first. I placed flowers on the grave. Meg gave me a moment, and I spoke to my mother in my mind. I told her I missed her, asked for guidance and clarity,” he explains in the book. He continues: “Sensing that Meg might also need a moment, I circled the hedge and watched the pond. When I returned, Meg was kneeling, eyes closed, palms resting on the stone. As we returned to the boat, I asked her what she had prayed for. ‘For clarity,’ she said. ‘And for guidance.’”
Read more Brussels receives with caution Trump’s new tariffs on the European Union
