Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcomed their second child into the world in June 2021 and caused a bit of a stir with the name they chose for their daughter: Lilibet, the intimate nickname that Queen Elizabeth had when she was a child. While Meghan and Harry claimed they had gotten permission from the Queen herself to use her nickname, new sources are arguing otherwise. Keep reading for more information.
New Sources Say Queen Elizabeth Did Not Give Permission
Queen Elizabeth was nicknamed Lilibet as a child, and her late husband, Prince Philip, often used it as a term of endearment for her. While Meghan and Prince Harry assured the masses that they received permission from the Queen, new sources are claiming otherwise. Robert Hardman's new book, Charles III: New King, New Court cites a royal staff member describing the Queen as "as angry as I'd ever seen her" upon hearing about Harry and Meghan's claims.
BBC in fact reported that Queen Elizabeth wasn't even consulted, let alone given the opportunity to give her blessing over the use of her name. Other reports have emerged saying that the former royals did in fact consult the Queen, but that she felt unable to say no.
Meghan & Harry Clap Back
Meghan and Harry, however, emphasized through a spokesperson that they would not have chosen the name Lilibert had the Queen not been "supportive." The statement released with the initial announcement of Lilibet's birth reads, "The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement—his grandmother was the first family member he called.
He shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honor. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name."
Meghan and Harry also took legal action through their law firm, Schillings, sending a letter to various broadcasters and publishers that said, "the claims suggesting the couple did not seek the Queen's permission were incorrect and defamatory, further complicating the narrative surrounding the royal family's dynamics."
