For most royal children, birthdays come with tiaras, horse-drawn carriages, and official portraits in manicured gardens. But for Princess Lilibet Diana’s fourth birthday, Meghan Markle threw convention out the window—along with expectations.
In a moment that’s now lighting up the internet, the Duchess of Sussex posted a throwback video unlike anything Buckingham Palace would’ve ever greenlit. Set not in a gilded nursery or Kensington corridor but in a hospital delivery room, the video shows Meghan—heavily pregnant and undeniably glowing—dancing alongside Prince Harry to the beat of “Baby Mama.”
“Four years ago today, this also happened,” Meghan wrote in her caption. “Both of our children were a week past their due dates. So when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work, there was only one thing left to do. And apparently that one thing was dancing like labor depended on it.”
Decked in a black wrap dress, the Duchess sways and twirls confidently, while Prince Harry, in jeans and a green hoodie, throws in his own goofy dad moves. It’s part TikTok challenge, part intimate maternity moment, and—predictably—a complete internet firestorm.
While fans applauded the candid glimpse into their pre-birth joy, critics were quick to pounce. Some praised Meghan for embracing vulnerability and showing an authentic moment of joy. Others accused her of using her daughter’s birthday as another PR ploy. One X user called it “desperate.” Another jeered, “We’re about two months away from the sex tape,” echoing media provocateur Piers Morgan’s signature scorn.
The backlash was swift enough that Meghan disabled comments on Instagram. But in the digital world, where silence only amplifies the noise, dissent quickly migrated to X (formerly Twitter), with royal watchers debating whether the clip was charming or cringeworthy.
Still, the video was only part of Meghan’s birthday tribute. Alongside the dance clip, the Duchess shared a carousel of intimate family photographs. One black-and-white image shows Meghan cuddling an infant Lilibet during what appears to be a breezy boat ride. Another captures the newborn in Meghan’s arms just after delivery. And in a third, Prince Harry is seen barefoot on a sunlit beach, walking hand-in-hand with his daughter beneath arching palm trees. Meghan’s caption read simply: “Daddy’s little girl and favorite adventurer.”
Born on June 4, 2021—just a year after the Duke and Duchess officially stepped away from royal duties—Lilibet has been at the center of both family milestones and public fascination. She became a princess in title when her grandfather, King Charles III, ascended the throne. Together with big brother Archie, now six, she forms part of a transatlantic royal chapter—California-raised, camera-ready, and always under a global microscope.
So while Meghan’s dance may not be the stuff of traditional royal legacy, it certainly made waves. Whether it was a celebration of motherhood, a well-timed PR play, or just two parents grooving through contractions, the moment captured attention.
And in the end, maybe that’s the point: A real, raw, slightly wild glimpse into royal life—one that doesn’t come from the palace press office, but from Meghan’s own iPhone camera roll.
Because if fairy tales are written with filters, this one came with a beat drop and hospital scrubs.
