Harry And Meghan First Got Approval From Queen Elizabeth Before They Were Allowed To Name Their Daughter

Sep 20, 2022 by apost team

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their daughter, Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, on June 4, 2021. The announcement of the birth came two days later, on June 6, and the newborn and her name have captured the attention of people across the world. 

For months before the announcement of the birth, people across the world wondered if Harry would choose to pay tribute to his mother with the birth of his daughter. Since the baby was due in the summer — however, the due date was not released — many royal fans were hoping that the baby would be born around the same time as what would have been Princess Diana's 60th birthday on July 1, 2021. 

Harry was also known to be close to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Express UK reported that "Lilly" was also in the running as a first name. However, Harry went one step further and chose the name "Lilibet" for his daughter, which was the nickname for the queen since she was young. 

Royal watchers had previously predicted that Harry and Meghan would choose to honor both Elizabeth and the late Prince Philip by picking a meaningful name for their daughter, and they were right about it! 

Harry and Meghan have said that before officially picking the name Lilibet, they consulted the late queen on the decision and she was very supportive of the idea of having her great-grandaughter named after her. However, a royal source shared with the BBC that the couple never consulted with the queen about the name choice. 

According to People, a Buckingham Palace source revealed to the BBC that the royal couple had “never asked,” Queen Elizabeth for her permission to use the name. Yet, shortly after that revelation, a source speaking for the couple strongly denied those accusations. 

"The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement, in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called. During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honor. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name," the spokesperson shared with People. 

People reported at the time that the statement from the couple read, "It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world." 

The statement continued: "Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home." The statement also elaborated on the meaning behind Lili's name:

"Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."

Diana's sons, Prince William and Harry, have worked hard to preserve their mother's legacy both symbolically and also throughout their own charity work as parts of the royal family. Both brothers have carried on Diana's legacy in terms of being outspoken about mental health.

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Following Lili's birth, The Sun reported that Buckingham Palace released the statement, "The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed and are delighted with the news of the birth of a daughter for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex."  

Harry and Meghan's spokesperson concluded their statement announcing Lilibet's birth: "This is the second child for the couple, who also have a two-year-old son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The Duke and Duchess thank you for your warm wishes and prayers as they enjoy this special time as a family"

The happy couple also posted a statement about their child on their website, Archewell which read: "On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili. She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we've felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family."

Thankfully, Queen Elizabeth was able to meet her great-granddaughter before she passed away on Sept. 8, 2022. Upon her passing, Prince Harry released this statement on the Archewell website. The Duke of Sussex spoke about the first time the queen ever met her great-grandchildren. He said:

“Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings — from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren. I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between.”

What do you think of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle naming their daughter in honor of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II? We think it is so special! If you love keeping up with the royal family,  pass this article on to friends or family who love reading about them too!