Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Just Shut Down a Rumor Surrounding Lilibet’s Name
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Palace sources are already trying to create drama in the British press around Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s decision to name their daughter Lilbet “Lili” after the Queen’s family nickname—and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s spokesperson is setting the record straight. After the BBC reported that it was told by a Palace source that the Queen was not asked about Meghan and Harry using Lilibet, the couple’s rep released a statement making it clear she knew, and they had her blessing.
The couple’s 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 honor. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.”
A source close to the Sussexes told ELLE.com previously that the Queen learned about baby Lili’s birth in advance of their public birth announcement, released Sunday.
People was told this week that the Queen already met Lili too in a video call. A source said, Meghan and Harry “were very excited and couldn’t wait to share that their daughter arrived” as soon as they returned home from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Meghan and Harry have been open about their close relationship with the Queen.
In their March interview with Oprah, Harry said, “I’ve spoken more to my grandmother in the last year than I have [in] many, many years. My grandmother and I have a really good relationship and understanding, and I have deep respect for her.”
Meghan also said that the queen “has always been wonderful to me. I mean, we had one of our first joint engagements together. She asked me to join her, and I went on the train. And we had breakfast together that morning and she gave me a beautiful gift and I just really loved being in her company, and I know we were in the car—yeah, she gave me some beautiful pearl earrings and a matching necklace—and we were in the car going between engagements. And she has a blanket that sits across her, her knees, for warmth and it was chilly and she was like, ‘Meghan, come on,’ and put it over my knees as well.”
