Prince Harry Honors Princess Diana’s Disney Legacy with Family Trip for Lilibet’s Birthday

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry take Archie and Lilibet to Disneyland for her 4th birthday — mirroring a cherished moment from Harry’s childhood with Princess Diana.

Los Angeles, June 6 – Prince Harry recreated a treasured memory from his own childhood by returning to Disneyland — this time as a father — to celebrate his daughter Princess Lilibet’s fourth birthday. The family outing marked a heartfelt full-circle moment, echoing a 1993 Disney trip Harry shared with his late mother, Princess Diana.

In a video posted on Instagram by Meghan Markle on June 6, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave a rare glimpse into their joyous two-day visit to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The montage captured Harry, Meghan, Prince Archie (6), and birthday girl Lilibet, who turned four on June 4, enjoying the theme park’s magic. Set to Peggy Lee’s “It’s a Good Day,” the post was captioned: “Thank you @disneyland for giving our family two days of pure joy!”

The celebration included a two-tiered Little Mermaid cake, a fitting tribute to Lilibet’s red hair and possible favorite Disney princess, Ariel. The Sussexes, donning Mickey Mouse ears, explored park classics — from meeting Elsa and stormtroopers to riding Dumbo and the updated Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a transformation of the original Splash Mountain.

The event mirrors a sentimental royal memory: in August 1993, Princess Diana took her sons, Prince William and then eight-year-old Harry, on a private visit to Walt Disney World in Florida. It was shortly after her separation from Prince Charles, offering the trio a brief escape into joy and normalcy. During that trip, the family was granted exclusive access to Splash Mountain, even navigating Disney’s hidden VIP tunnels.

A former waiter at Flagler’s (now Citricos) at the Grand Floridian Hotel recalled Diana and her sons fondly. “They were all very nice, very well-behaved. She was a sweetheart,” he told PEOPLE.

Now, 31 years later, Harry is creating similarly joyful memories for his own children — not just honoring a royal tradition, but passing along a legacy of love, fun, and togetherness.