Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from the royal family in 2020 created significant turbulence within the monarchy, and one particular decision by the couple left a lasting impression on Queen Elizabeth II.
The naming of their daughter, Princess Lilibet, became a source of deep contention and was said to have upset the late monarch considerably. Reports circulated for years that the Queen was displeased with the couple’s decision to use her private childhood nickname, "Lilibet," for their daughter. Royal biographer Robert Hardman previously wrote that the Queen was “as angry as ever” after Harry and Meghan publicly claimed she had been “supportive” of their choice, despite not being consulted in the way they had implied.
Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born on June 4, 2021. At the time, Buckingham Palace refrained from making an official comment when the BBC reported that the Queen had not been asked for permission to use the name. However, new information has since surfaced that sheds light on what actually transpired during Harry and Meghan’s private meeting with the Queen.
According to a source who spoke with the Daily Mail, Harry and Meghan informed the Queen of their decision rather than seeking her approval. The insider explained that the couple had framed it as a celebratory announcement: “We’re going to call her Lilibet. Isn’t that great?” This approach, according to the source, contradicted the version of events Harry and Meghan later presented publicly.
The issue was not the use of the name itself, but rather how the situation was handled. The Queen was reportedly uncomfortable with being asked to validate a narrative that differed from her own recollection. When the BBC reported that the Sussexes had not sought permission, Harry and Meghan responded forcefully, sending a legal letter calling the report “false and defamatory.”
