When Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born, the joyful announcement of her birth was made on Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation website, expressing their gratitude for the love and support received.
Princess Lilibet, seventh in line to the British throne, was named in honor of her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
‘Lilibet’ was a personal nickname used by the Queen during her childhood when she struggled to pronounce her full name.
The late Queen was reportedly surprised to hear that Harry had supposedly sought her permission to use the name Lilibet.
Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson told the New York Post that Harry had indeed spoken to the Queen and expressed his desire to name his daughter after her.
They asserted that had the Queen disapproved, they would not have chosen the name.
Contrarily, a Palace source informed the BBC that the conversation was more of a declaration rather than a request.
This discrepancy led to a legal letter from Harry and Meghan’s lawyers, who labeled the story as “defamatory.”
Buckingham Palace chose not to comment on these claims.
Lilibet was the childhood nickname of Queen Elizabeth II, stemming from her toddler years when she found it difficult to pronounce Elizabeth. Lili’s middle name, Diana, is a tribute to Prince Harry’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
It’s worth noting that Princess Charlotte, daughter of Prince William and Kate, also bears Diana as one of her middle names, along with Elizabeth.
Did Queen Elizabeth II Meet Princess Lilibet?
After Princess Lilibet’s birth on June 4, 2021, reports emerged that Queen Elizabeth II had met her granddaughter through a video call. However, these claims were swiftly refuted.
The then-95-year-old monarch was reportedly very upset by these claims made by friends of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had spoken to US journalists.
A Palace insider provided a terse comment to The Mail on Sunday, asserting, “No video call has taken place.”
The source emphasized that these “misleading briefings” to the media were not an accurate reflection of events. They stressed the importance of ensuring the public received a true account of what had transpired.
The Sussex family currently resides in Montecito, California, where Lilibet and her five-year-old brother, Archie, are being raised.
Though Harry and Meghan have largely kept their children out of the media spotlight, they have occasionally offered the public a rare glimpse into their private family life.