Duke and Duchess of Sussex unveil Christmas card with first photo of baby Lilibet

Barefoot in the Californian sunshine, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared the first public image of their baby daughter Lilibet, saying she “made us a family”.

The Duke and Duchess released the photograph of their family of four as a festive treat for fans, announcing donations “on your behalf” to charities supporting Afghan refugees and the US paid leave campaign.

The image, taken by the professional photographer who shot their engagements and wedding pictures, shows baby Lilibet and her big brother Archie laughing with their parents this summer.

The family wished the world “Happy Holidays”, in a card released just in time for Christmas but which does not mention the Christian festival by name.

The picture delighted fans of the family, who have been longing to see an image of their new baby girl and the toddler whose face has barely been shown on camera.

It shows a smiling Lilibet wearing a simple white dress with bare feets dangling, held by her smitten mother.

The family use her abbreviated name “Lili”, derived from her full name which was given in tribute to the Queen’s childhood nickname.

Archie, wearing a matching crisp white shirt and jeans, is being hugged by the Duke. The little boy’s curly red hair is seen clearly for the first time since he was a baby, showing him taking after his father.

The Duke, wearing double denim, his trademark bracelets and bare feet, beams up at Lili, while the Duchess, in jeans and a dark jumper completes the picture of family happiness.

The card wishes the world: “Happy Holidays.”

“This year, 2021, we welcomed our daughter, Lilibet, to the world,” the Sussexes said.

“Archie made us a ‘Mama’ and a ‘Papa’, and Lili made us a family. As we look forward to 2022, we have made donations on your behalf to several organizations that honor and protect families – from those being relocated from Afghanistan, to American families in need of paid parental leave.”

The charities are Team Rubicon, which mobilises military veterans for disaster response; Welcome.US, a charity to help new Afghan refugees settle in America; Human First Coalition, an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan; and Humanity Crew, an international aid organisation.

The Sussexes also donated to charities aiding the US political campaign for paid leave, via charities Paid Leave For All, PL+US and Marshall Plan for Moms.

“Wishing you a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year, from our family to yours!” they said, signing off: “As ever, Harry, Meghan, Archie & Lili.”

The Sussexes’ team at Archewell said that the couple had been moved by hearing about Team Rubicon’s Task Force Liberty, home to 10,000 Afghan refugees, during a visit to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in the US.

The donation will support similar resettlement sites across America, they said.

Many of the charities released messages of gratitude on social media, mentioning the “generous gift”.

On the issue of paid leave, Archewell added it was “something The Duchess of Sussex has previously noted is a humanitarian issue that she believes must be urgently addressed in the United States”.

Sharing the image on Instagram, photographer Alexi Lubomirski said it was “one of those rare and special projects, that one is fortunate enough to be a part of”.

“To be able to continue the story of this family whom I first photographed as an engaged couple, then on the day of their wedding, as a married couple and now seeing their love manifest into two beautiful children, has been a delightful honour,” he said.

“This day with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was one such joyous experience, and one that I feel extremely privileged to have been invited to capture.”

The card was shared after the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and the Cambridge family had sent their own Christmas cards out.

Underlining the Sussexes’ departure from the working Royal family, in which the palaces try to co-ordinate their announcements so as not to overshadow one another, their card was made public on the same day as details of the Queen’s Christmas message.

It came moments before Buckingham Palace confirmed that there would be a festival of thanksgiving for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh in the spring.