Queen had NO IDEA Harry and Meghan would name daughter 'Lilibet' after her, claims close pal
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s daughter Lilibet has been in the news since her birth due to her name. Adding more fuel to the fire is interior designer Nicky Haslam, who happens to be close with the royals including the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Michael of Kent. He claims the Queen was taken by surprise when she learned the child's name.
Haslam opened up about the royal family, specifically Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and revealed that the monarch didn't think they would name their daughter Lilibet. The designer said in a March interview with The Third Act podcast, "Why on earth didn't they call that baby Doria? Prettiest name ever. They go and call it Lilibet." He added that Harry called the Queen for permission but kept the actual name under wraps. "He rang her up because she was furious, he rang her up and said 'We want to call our daughter after you granny,' and she said 'oh how charming, thank you,' thinking it will be Elizabeth. So, he got permission, but they didn't say the name,” he added.
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On June 4, 2021, Meghan and Harry gave birth to a girl, and two days later they made the joyful announcement. "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 read. They continued by elaborating on their name selection, "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."
Days later, a Palace source told the BBC that no request for approval was made to the Queen. A representative for the Sussexes asserted in response to the publication that they would not have chosen the name if the Queen had not approved. "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 statement read.
This insight into a ‘very emotional’ first meeting between a grandfather and a granddaughter has come from those close to Prince Charles.
— Peter Hunt (@_PeterHunt) June 30, 2022
Faux outrage would be dominating column inches if Harry and Meghan had briefed on the private family get together. https://t.co/bU3aNVWKO6
Meanwhile, the Queen's name, Lilibet, has significant sentimental significance because her late husband, Prince Philip, and her father, George VI, both called her by this name in private. Haslam on The Third Act podcast had also wondered why Harry and Meghan had ignored the former actress's mother, Doria, who was also the child's grandmother like Princess Diana. “Why on earth didn't they call that baby Doria? It's the prettiest name ever,” he remarked in his audio rant.