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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle offered royal fans a glimpse into their UK home of Frogmore Cottage as they shared Lilibet’s first birthday portraits last night.
The Duke, 37, and Duchess of Sussex, 40, who are currently living in their $14 million mansion in California, hosted a ‘relaxed’ garden party on Saturday for little Lilibet, one, at their home on the Windsor estate with birthday cake, balloons, party games and picnic snacks, it is understood.
She is seen on her birthday in an official photograph with reddish locks, smiling and dressed in a pale blue frock with a white bow in her hair.
In another snap, Meghan can be seen wearing a relaxed outfit as she posed with Lilibet in a room within the cottage alongside a friend and her children.
The photographs were taken by photographer and friend of the couple Misan Harriman, who attended the small picnic with his wife, children and reportedly members of the Royal family.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle offered royal fans a glimpse into their UK home of Frogmore Cottage as they shared Lilibet’s first birthday portraits last night (pictured: 1. Gallery lighting, 2. Low cast iron radiator, 3. Ragroll walls, 4. Large artwork, 5. Floral rug, 6. Wooden flooring, 7. White armchair, 8. Black plant pot)
In another photograph, Misan can be seen relaxing in an outdoor dining area in the couple’s garden, with the family’s vegetable patch on view in the background (9. Vegetable patch, 10. Wire chairs, 11. Black and grey striped cushions, 12. Industrial style table)
In the final image, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter relaxed outside their home of Frogmore Cottage (13. Freshly mowed lawn, 14. American style porch, 15. Outdoor storage, 16. Bamboo shoots, 17. High hedges)
Those who are said to have also been at Frogmore Cottage include Zara and Mike Tindall’s three children, Mia, eight, Lena, three, and Lucas, one, as well as Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10, daughters of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly.
Three-year-old Archie’s godfather, Charlie Van Straubenzee, and his brother Tom, godfather to Princess Charlotte, were also invited, it is understood.
The photographs offered a sneak peek into the private life of the Duke and Duchess and the objects and personal treasures they hold dear.
Interior designer Benji Lewis noted the property appears a far cry from their $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara.
He told FEMAIL: ‘Interestingly the look isn’t overly Hollywood, rather classic good taste with the antique rug laid on floorboards and what I’d imagine is a contemporary natural oak version of a Louis style armchair upholstered in ivory linen.’
1. Sleek gallery lighting
Behind the Duchess and Lili is a large piece of artwork, which is not wholly visible in the photograph due to a reflection of the windows behind – however it features a bold black frame and a wide white border
Just behind the Duchess of Sussex, Lili, and their group of friends, is a vertical light highlighting a piece of artwork on the wall.
The industrial style gallery lighting appears to be dark metallic material, in keeping with Meghan’s rugged style.
Back in 2019, Meghan hired the top designer of the Soho House clubs, Vicky Charles, to decorate Frogmore Cottage.
Ms Charles oversaw the design of Soho House branches in Malibu, Chicago and Barcelona.
According to the firm’s website they opened their first House in London in 1995 and now have 23 around the world.
They include London venues in Shoreditch, White City and Soho itself as well as a 100-acre farmhouse in Oxfordshire.
Other Soho House venues around the world include New York, Mumbai, Amsterdam and Istanbul.
Ms Charles has worked with friends of Harry and Meghan including the Beckhams and George and Amal Clooney.
The designer has been described as ‘ridiculously in demand’ and attracted a series of high-profile clients.
The gallery lighting is a known signature of the brand.
Meanwhile Benji also noted how the interior designer had been clever about the way she had lit the room.
He explained: ‘They’ve also thought about how and where they use artificial lighting, with the inclusion of a picture light – possibly in a timeless bronze finish – not only offering a wash of light onto the simply framed piece of artwork but providing some good accent illumination.’
3. Trendy ragroll walls
In the snap, Meghan can be seen posing against a wall in a living room in her home, which appears to feature high ceilings.
And while the photograph is in black-and-white, meaning the colour of the wall isn’t clear, it appears to have been painted with a rag rolling effect.
Benji revealed: ‘Whilst the paint effect on the walls would have been seen as dated a year or so ago, this is a trend that’s making a huge comeback.
‘It’s a shame we can’t tell what colour it is but I’d imagine it’s made up of layered neutral tones like ivory and tan, possibly in homage to the serenity we’ve seen of their California interiors.’
4. Focal point black-and-white artwork reminiscent of Californian home
Behind the Duchess and Lili is a large piece of artwork, which is not wholly visible in the photograph due to a reflection of the windows behind – however it features a bold black frame and a wide white border
In photographs taken at their $14 million mansion in the US, the Duke and Duchess often showcase their distinctive taste in art.
As well as an ‘I Love You California print’, which is on display in their lounge, the couple also have a set of photographs showing different birds nests in one of the rooms of their home.
It appears they have replicated the style in their Frogmore Cottage home, with a large piece of framed artwork placed on a wall in their home.
While the pieces are currently unidentified, it is a bolder design than the Duchess’ usual choice, who often selects fine art for her home. It features a bold black frame and a thick white border.
5. Floral rug
Beneath the Duchess feet appears to be a classic rug featuring a floral design over exposed floorboards, which are reported to have been the property’s original flooring
While much of the Duchess’ home appears a more-traditional floral rug can be seen beneath the group in the portrait.
The rug appears large in the room – running across the length of the wall and almost covering the entire wooden flooring.
It perhaps offers a softer surface a family home than exposed wooden flooring – for crawling babies, little toddlers learning to take their first steps or little ones racing across the room.
7. Ivory Louis style armchair
To the front right of the image, an armchair covered in bright, light upholstery is clearly visible.
Meanwhile it also features a more classic style, with wooden legs and arms.
The Louis is an enduring icon of French furniture history.
The Duchess has a similar vintage-looking arm chair in the study of her California mansion, complete with a mahogany-style wood framing and incredible cream fabric.
8. Black plant pot
In the right forefront of the image is a black plant pot, which appears to be balanced on a table.
While it is not clear if there is a plant within the pot, Meghan performed a similar styling trick while working as an actress in Suits and living at her Toronto home.
In another photograph, Misan can be seen relaxing in an outdoor dining area in the couple’s garden, with the family’s vegetable patch on view in the background (9. Vegetable patch, 10. Wire chairs, 11. Black and grey striped cushions, 12. Industrial style table)
9. Vegetable patch
In the second snap shared by photographer Misan, he can be seen relaxing in the Duke and Duchess’ garden on a set of garden chairs.
Behind the esteemed photographer, at the back of the freshly mown lawn, appears to be a large piece of fencing around a caged area.
While it is not known what this space is used for, sources previously revealed how the couple had an organic vegetable plot created in the gardens of their home.
11. Black and grey striped cushions
The photographer and his daughter appeared relaxed as they lounged on the large outdoor sofa with a variety of monochrome striped cushions
The photographer and his daughter appeared relaxed as they lounged on the large outdoor sofa with a variety of monochrome striped cushions.
It appears to offer a place in the room to relax and recline when relaxing with friends, or perhaps a space to enjoy a family meal.
Keen cooks Harry and Meghan planned to grow their own herbs, fruit and veg at Frogmore Cottage on the Queen’s Windsor estate, well-placed sources previously said.
Megha is a keen foodie who ran a food and lifestyle blog, The Tig, before her marriage. In an interview while she was still an actress, she said home-grown produce was the key to much of her love for food.
‘Growing up in southern California… I loved gardening and growing my own vegetables. That farm-to-table ethos was ingrained at such a young age,’ she said.
A royal source said in 2019: ‘The duchess has a passion for cooking so it was suggested to include a small plot in the spacious garden where they can grow some of their own produce.
‘She regularly cooks for Prince Harry and the cottage will be the perfect place for her to prepare meals with some home grown produce from their own garden.
‘It is understood that she wants to be able grow vegetables, herbs and soft fruits.’
10. Practical black wire chairs
Misan and his daughter can be seen relaxing on a wire frame sofa in a trendy industrial style in the garden.
The wired furniture is very reminiscent of the Duchess’ style in former homes – including her Vancouver apartment, where she lived before she married the Duke.
She has long been a fan of the industrial decor – among the books in the couple’s Montecito home is the interior design hardback Wood And Iron: Industrial Interiors.
It offers a guide to those wanting to decorate their home in the distinctive style.
According to it’s online description, it allows readers to dip into the world of industrial style, ‘presenting the most influential names in the genre, anonymous pieces salvaged from junk shops and carefully selected interior design projects.’
12. Industrial-inspired wire table
During the one-year-olds birthday party, it appears guests sat around a wire table in the garden of the Frogmore Cottage home.
The grey wired table is evident in the forefront of the image with Misan, perhaps giving the Sussexes a place to dine outside, or to watch their children play on the lawn beyond.
In the final image, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter relaxed outside their home of Frogmore Cottage (13. Freshly mowed lawn, 14. American style porch, 15. Outdoor storage, 16. Bamboo shoots, 17. High hedges)
13. Freshly mowed lawn
In the snaps, one-year-old Lili could be seen posing on a freshly mowed lawn outside the couple’s Frogmore Cottage home.
Twitter royal commentator and friend of the Sussexes Omid Scobie said the couple invited close friends and family for an ‘intimate backyard picnic’ as he posted the picture.
The luscious green grass appeared the perfect space for the family and friends to enjoy the British sunshine, with the space ideal for games with children.
The background of the second photo has a rather more rustic feel about it, with the cut grass running simply up to whatever it is that’s growing there, but again no floral detail.
Benji revealed: ‘Whilst everything looks neat and tidy in the part of the garden, with plenty of cut grass space for the children to run around on, it has the appearance of being somewhere that aside from a once over with the lawn mower and an occasional hedge clip, it’s given no more attention than that.
‘It’s seemingly a garden that has to require minimum maintenance with not a flower or rose bed in sight, perhaps indicative of the fact that they’re not really in the UK very much.’
15. Outdoor storage
While the outdoor lawn is perfectly manicured, with very few toys left out and minimal clutter, there is a brown box in the background of the image.
The brown crate is apparent in the top right of the image, and appears to have been placed against the outside of the cottage.
While the detailing on the box is not clear from the photograph, it appears to be some kind of outdoor storage for the Duke and Duchess.
16. Bamboo shoots
While the Duke and Duchess have a vegetable patch in what appears to be their back garden, bamboo shoots are also evident in the front of their home.
In the background of the image of Lili appears to be a number of brown shoot, apparently offering support for plants or vegetables growing at the couples home.
17. High hedges
Meanwhile the couple also appear to have a tall green hedge running along the length of their garden.
From cream white interiors to over-the-top fireplaces: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s $14 million mansion in California
The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, bought the sprawling nine-bedroom and 16-bathroom mansion in upscale Montecito, Santa Barbara, for $14.65million in June 2021, making them neighbors with celebrities Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, according to DailyMail.com
The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 39, bought the sprawling nine-bedroom and 16-bathroom mansion in upscale Montecito, Santa Barbara, for $14.65million in June 2021, making them neighbors with celebrities Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, according to DailyMail.com.
And since the couple moved into the property, they have revealed a number of rooms within their home during virtual appearances.
Meghan and Harry’s home sits on 5.4 acres of land and immaculately clipped hedges border the estate’s stone-pillared entry gates.
THE LIVING ROOM: Last summer, the Duchess revealed a glimpse at her plush living room, complete with bird nest artwork and plush furnishings
STUDY: Meanwhile the royal has also made virtual appearances from white panelled rooms
Property listings say the home took nearly five years to build and included a library, office, spa with a separate dry and wet sauna, a gym with a stripper pole, game room, arcade, theater, wine cellar and five-car garage.
The entrance to the property opens onto a wide lane paved with hand-cut Santa Barbara Stone that leads through a grand archway of trees to the main residence, according to Zillow.
The estate has sweeping lawns, tiered rose gardens, tall Italian cypress trees, blooming lavender, century old olive trees, a tennis court, tea house, children’s cottage and a pool.
It also boasts a two-bedroom, two-bath guest house, perfect for Meghan’s mother Doria, who is acting as one-year-old Archie’s nanny. Doria has already been to the house, TMZ reports.
HER STUDY: Meghan offered fans a rare glimpse inside the Californian mansion she shares with Prince Harry today during a ‘special message’ shared on her 40th birthday
HER STUDY: Just in front of the flowers a silver picture frame can be seen, which another camera angle reveals is most likely a photo of Archie. Three further grainy black and white photos can be seen in a connected frame in front of this, with the central one seeming to show Harry kissing a baby and one on the right potentially showing Meghan holding a young child – perhaps the first snap of Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor
The home’s seller is thought to be Russian tycoon Sergey Grishin who bought the ‘palatial’ mansion for more than $25million in 2009 and had tried to sell the home for up to $34million before eventually accepting a loss.
Grishin is also the former owner of a different California estate – known as the Scarface mansion because it appeared in the 1983 Al Pacino movie – which sold for a similarly cut-price $12million in 2015.
Surrounded by lush green gardens and overlooking the sea, the home has been described as a ‘hidden paradise’.
One estate agent who spent an hour inside said it was ‘designed for someone who never wants to leave home’.
Brett Buschbom said: ‘I went through this house and an hour later I’m coming out like “wow”, the whole bottom floor felt like a resort with steam room, massage room, sauna, Jacuzzi, full bar, arcade and one of the most amazing wine cellars and that was just the basement.’
HIS STUDY: A clip released last month showed Harry’s study filled with California style soft furnishings, including statement candle holders (left), and a stack of green books (right) which appear to have a regal insignia, and a trendy white wash wall
THE CHICKEN COOP: The couple also filmed inside their chicken coop during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last year (pictured)
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