By now, you’ve most likely heard the exciting news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently welcomed their second child together, a baby girl, this past weekend.
The name, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, instantly starting trending all over the world as the sweet name held a tribute to two of the most important women in Prince Harry’s life. However, vicious rumours soon started to spread that the happy parents didn’t ask the Queen to use her nickname before announcing it. Now, the pair are shutting down the rumours.
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“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,” read a statement from the couple, published Sunday.
“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 continued.
“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.”
Naturally, fans of the Royal family loved the name and the significant meaning it holds.
However, in typical U.K. tabloid fashion, the press started spreading rumours that Meghan and Harry did not consult with Her Majesty about using her intimate nickname.
Aa fans of the royals may know, Princess Elizabeth referred to herself as a Lilibet when she was too young to properly pronounce her own name. According to Vanity Fair , her father, then the Duke of York, affectionately referred to his eldest daughter as Lilibet and continued to call her by the name when he became King.
The late Prince Philip also used to call his wife Lilibet.
Just hours after news broke of Lilibet’s birth, the press began to speculate that the name was an insult to the Queen, or even worse, that the pair didn’t even ask to use her intimate nickname.
In an article that has since been amended by the BBC, the publication claimed to have information from Palace sources.
BBC reporter Jonny Dymond still has his initial tweet published that reads: “BREAKING Palace source tells BBC that the Queen was not asked by Meghan and Harry over the use of her childhood nickname; reports suggested Harry had sought permission from Queen to call newborn ‘Lilibet’; but Palace source says the Queen was ‘never asked’.”
Now, the pair have released a statement insisting that the Queen approved of the name.
“The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement. In fact, his grandmother was the first family member he called,” the spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess told CNN .
“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 names.”
Well, there you have it! Another mean rumour squashed by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Can’t wait to see pictures of sweet baby Lili!
h/t: CNN
