Meghan Markle marked International Women’s Day with a touching tribute to her daughter, sharing a rare photo of the two enjoying a quiet moment together by the ocean.
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, posted the new image to Instagram on Sunday, March 8, showing herself cuddling 4-year-old Princess Lilibet during what appeared to be a sunny beach outing in California.
In the sweet snapshot, the mother and daughter are seen snuggling close together as waves roll in nearby.
“For the woman she will one day be… Happy International Women’s Day,” Meghan wrote alongside the photo.
She also revealed a personal detail about the image, crediting her husband, Prince Harry, for capturing the moment.
Meghan playfully referred to him as “Papa Sussex” in the caption.
Meghan Shares a Post Every Year for International Women’s Day
The post continues a tradition for Meghan, who often uses International Women’s Day to highlight the important women in her life and celebrate female empowerment.
In previous years, she has shared personal photos and messages honoring women who inspire and uplift her.
In 2025, the duchess posted a carousel of images featuring several meaningful moments with loved ones.
Among them was another previously unseen photo of Harry spending time with Lilibet, offering followers a glimpse into the family’s private life.
Despite stepping away from their official royal duties in 2020, Meghan and Harry have remained notably protective of their two children — Lilibet and their son, Prince Archie, 6.
When they do share family photos online, the couple often obscures their children’s faces or photographs them from behind.
Meghan Is Sharing More Private Moments With Her Family
However, that approach appeared to shift slightly earlier this year.
In February, Meghan shared a rare image of Harry holding Lilibet in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
The affectionate photo showed a smiling Harry cuddling his daughter, with Lilibet’s face more visible than in most previous images.
“These two + Archie = my forever Valentines,” Meghan captioned the post.
The photo quickly sparked excitement among fans online, with many commenting on Lilibet’s bright red hair — a trait she appears to have inherited from her father.
In a May 2025 podcast, Meghan revealed that she envisioned motherhood looking different.
“I will say, for myself — especially when they are baby babies and before I was [a] mom… I’ve always wanted to be a mom,” she said and added that she wanted her children to see her as a “working mom.”
“I was like ‘Oh gosh, I’m going to give a speech with a baby on my hip,’” Meghan continued. “I had a whole vision— you fast-forward, granted I had a lot of external things happening by the time I had both pregnancies and both babies.”
“But it was not the way I envisioned it,” she added.
