Meghan Markle revealed she had bought herself a luxury gift that she one day planned to give to her daughter in an interview back in 2015, a year before she met Prince Harry and six years before welcoming daughter Princess Lilibet
As the daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Princess Lilibet will never meet her late grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
The four-year-old, who turns five next month, was born in California in June 2021 and named after her late great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, as well as her father’s late mother, who died in 1997 following a tragic car crash.
When she gets older, mum Meghan previously said that Lilibet stands to be given an incredible present by mum Meghan, which she bought for her years before she was born – and even before she met husband Harry. And it has a sweet connection to the grandmother she never knew.
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Many years ago, after the Duchess of Sussex landed the role of Rachel Zane on the hit legal drama Suits, she decided to treat herself. After the series got the go-ahead for a third season, Meghan splashed out on a pricey Cartier Tank Francaise watch – and had a powerful message engraved on the back to remind her of her achievements.
During an interview with Hello! magazine back in 2015 she explained why the watch, which starts from £5,000 with some as much as £28,000, means so much to her. She said: “I’ve always coveted the Cartier French Tank watch. When I found out Suits had been picked up for our third season – which, at the time, felt like such a milestone – I totally splurged and bought the two-tone version.”
She had the back engraved with the message ‘To M.M. From M.M’. She went on: “I plan to give it to my daughter one day. That’s what makes pieces special, the connection you have to them.”
When Lilibet receives the timepiece, it means she will have an almost identical watch to Diana, who also sported a Cartier Tank Française watch wearing it regularly on engagements in the 1990s. Meghan is believed to wear the piece often now.
Other pieces that once belonged to Diana that Meghan has worn include a stunning Emerald cut aquamarine ring, surrounded by small solitaire diamonds and set in 24-carat yellow gold, on her right hand at her evening reception.
Diana had been previously pictured wearing the item, which was created by Asprey in 1997, the same year she died following a Paris car crash. Meanwhile, Meghan has also sported Diana’s Cartier tennis bracelet several times, which is thought to be worth £17,000.
Lilibet was born on June 4, 2021 at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. A statement said at the time: “”Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.”
She was christened at Harry and Meghan’s home in March 2023 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor. Among those at the intimate gathering were said to be Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, Lilibet’s godfather Tyler Perry and an unnamed godmother – although none of her royal relatives were at the service.
