Harry and Meghan Would not Have Used Name Lilibet had ‘QUEEN Not Been Supportive’, Says Spokesperson

Her Majesty was first family member Harry called before announcing birth of second child, says Sussex team

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (PA)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would not have given the name Lilibet to their new daughter if the Queen, who was first given the nickname by her father, “did not support the decision”, a spokesperson has said.

The Sussexes have denied a BBC report that claimed the Queen had not been asked about the use of the name in advance, according to a palace source.

A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told The Independent: “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 honour.”

Adding that “had she [Her Majesty] not been supportive, they would not have used the name.”

The name Lilibet was the nickname given to Elizabeth II by her father and then later used by her close family, and in particular her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Harry and Meghan’s daughter – the Queen’s 11th great-grandchild – also takes the name Diana, after her grandmother, the Princess of Wales.

Harry and Meghan announced the birth of their second child on Sunday, after she was born on Friday 4 June at a hospital in Santa Barbara, California.

In a statement posted to the Royal Family Twitter account, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they were “delighted” with the news.

“Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of Lilibet Diana! The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted with the news.”

Prince Charles on Tuesday expressed his delight at becoming a grandfather for the fifth time during a visit to the Oxford Mini UK Plant, where he spoke about the importance of maintaining a healthy world for future generations.

He said: “The development of technology like electric vehicles, or green hydrogen for that matter for heavy transport, is vital for maintaining the health of our world for future generations, something I’m only too aware of today having recently become a grandfather for the fifth time.

“And such happy news really does remind one of the necessity of continued innovation in this area, especially around sustainable battery technology, in view of the legacy we bequeath to our grandchildren.”