The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s new baby, named Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, was born at 11.40am on Friday, June 4, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, weighing 7lb 11oz. She was named after the Queen’s family nickname and also Harry’s mother Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in 1997.
The name Lilibet harks back to the Queen’s childhood when she could not pronounce her own name.
The only person who used the name in recent times was Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away in April.
Meghan and Harry are currently engaged in a dispute with the BBC over claims the couple did not ask permission from the Queen to use the name for their daughter.
They are accusing the BBC of libel for making the claim.
But a source has appeared to hit back, and told the Mail on Sunday: “Friends of the Sussexes appear to have given misleading briefings to journalists about what the Queen had said and that took the whole thing over the edge.
“The Palace could not deny the story that this was a mistruth.”
It is believed the Queen has now told courtiers to correct statements that misrepresent private conversations between members of the Firm.
Harry threatened to sue the BBC after the corporation following the report.
Kelly Hartog, a US journalist, has claimed Meghan and Harry are attempting a reconciliation with the Firm without “doing any reconciliation work”.
She wrote in her latest column on NBC News: “From where I sit, it looks like Harry and Meghan are using a Band-Aid to try to fix a gunshot wound, with Harry saying, ‘Hey Grandma, I know you’re p****d off with me right now, so I thought I’d take your very private nickname and put it in the public domain by giving it to our newborn daughter.’
“At best, the decision seems tone-deaf.
“At worst, it’s a cynical attempt at reconciliation without actually doing any reconciliation work.
“Frankly, the queen deserves better.
“Her late husband — the only one who really was entitled to call her by her nickname — was barely in his grave when her grandson chose to shout across the pond, ‘Surprise!’”
But not all commentators are opposed to the name, with Dickie Arbiter, a former palace aide, suggesting the move could be seen as an “olive branch”.
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