SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 29 March 2024, Friday |

Was the Queen consulted on Meghan-Harry daughter’s name? Contradictory reports emerge

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry became parents for the second time with a daughter and her name has been embroiled in a controversy after the couple decided for her to have both names of reigning UK Queen and Harry’s late mother.

Their daughter is called Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. She is the Queen’s 11th great-grandchild and is eighth in line to the throne. Her middle name was chosen to honour her late grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales while Lilibet is Queen’s childhood nickname.

Source disputed reports in the wake of the announcement of the name that Prince Harry and Meghan had spoken to the Queen before the birth.

But a Sussexes’ spokesperson insisted they would not have used the name had the Queen not been supportive.

They said the monarch was the first family member the duke had called.

The spokesperson said: “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. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.”

In a letter to some news broadcasters and publishers, the law firm Schillings, which acts for Prince Harry and Meghan, said the BBC report that the Queen was not asked for permission to use the name Lilibet was false and defamatory and should not be repeated.