Prince Harry & Meghan Markle Naming Daughter Lilibet Is 'Quite Demeaning' Towards Queen Elizabeth II, Says Expert
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to honor Queen Elizabeth II by naming their second child, daughter Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, after Her Majesty. However, their choice of name has been deemed as impolite towards Harry's grandmother, a royal biographer insisted, noting that it was a special nickname between her and her late husband, Prince Philip.
"I don’t think it’s a good idea — I think it's quite rude to Her Majesty Her Queen. It was a very private nickname from her husband who hasn’t been dead for very long," royal biographer Angela Levin said of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April.
“Prince Charles would never dream of calling his mother Lilibet," she candidly added.
The moniker Lilibet came about when the Queen was too young to pronounce her own name, calling herself "Lilibet" instead. The 95-year-old's parents and grandparents took up the nickname, with the Queen's father, King George VI, once saying of his daughters: "Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy."
While the world is aware of the Queen's family nickname, Levin felt it wasn't right for Harry and Meghan to give the name to Her Majesty's great-granddaughter. "We knew what it was but it was his name — [Prince Philip] wanted that name for her, it was a special name, I think it’s quite demeaning, I really believe that,” the expert explained on Good Morning Britain, per Page Six.
According to Levin, Harry, 36, "did mention to his grandmother" that he was going to name his newborn daughter after her; however, she speculated that the red-headed prince didn't say he was going to choose Lilibet.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their daughter on Friday, June 4. "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," the couple's statement read.
The lovebirds welcomed Lilibet, who is the younger sister of 2-year-old Archie, in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Despite Levin's skeptical thoughts on the name of the newest member of the high-profile family, others believe the couple's choice of name was an attempt at reconciliation with the royal family — naming their daughter Lilibet means the Queen's nickname will live on.
Harry and Meghan, 39, may not be on the best of terms with the royals, as they have repeatedly made shocking claims since leaving their senior royal duties behind last year about what goes on behind palace doors. Nonetheless, the royals will definitely want to reunite with the couple to meet their baby girl, said a source.
In fact, the Queen has reportedly already met Lilibet via Zoom. “Meghan is now resting at home and she and Harry have already introduced the Queen to her great granddaughter via Zoom,” spilled a Royal Observer insider, adding that the new parents-of-two broke the news to Her Majesty before telling anyone else.
