Harry wanted to name daughter after the Queen even before he met Meghan – and had discussed the idea with his grandmother, insider says
- Insiders say Prince Harry has close relationship with his grandmother the Queen
- The Duke of Sussex reportedly told the monarch of his plans to honour her with name of one of his children years before he even met future wife Meghan Markle
- The couple welcomed second child – Lilibet Diana – on Friday morning in the US
- Royal experts hope choice of name will help bring family back closer together
Prince Harry told the Queen he wished to name his daughter after her even before he even met Meghan and the name choice has left the monarch ‘delighted’.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their daughter on Friday morning and have decided to name the child Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
The Queen is known as ‘Lilibet’ by close members of the Royal Family, which originated when she was a child and struggled to pronounce Elizabeth, and was used by her father King George VI.
In the wake of the news, it was unclear whether the Queen had been made aware of the couple’s name choice ahead of the official announcement.
But now insiders say Prince Harry discussed honouring his grandmother when he named his child years before he met his future wife, according to the Mirror.
Prince Harry informed his grandmother the Queen (pictured) that he wished to honour her by naming one of his children after her years before he met Meghan Markle, insiders have said
Citing well-placed sources, the newspaper reports that Harry had considered the idea of naming a daughter after his mother Diana but was concerned over the attention this would bring.
A source told the Mirror: ‘Harry has always enjoyed a wonderful bond with his grandmother, which makes it all the more bizarre that he has gone out of his way to threaten the relationship over the last couple of years.
‘They have been incredibly close and as you would imagine have shared some very deep and personal conversations as Harry was growing up, which carried on really until very recently.
‘Harry has never made a secret of his wish to have a family of his own, often talking about how it would be great to have a boy and a girl, that he could name after the two most important women in his life, the Queen and his mother.
‘In the end, he mentioned Lilibet to Meghan, when discussing potential names for their children and she loved the idea.
‘It’s a fitting tribute to the Queen and something many people will hope brings the family closer together.’
The Queen is said to be ‘delighted’ at the Sussexes’ choice of name for her great grandchild
The Sussexes also announced that their daughter, who will be known as Lili, has the middle name Diana, to honour her ‘beloved late grandmother’.
Harry and Meghan are both taking ‘several months off work’ to care for Lilibet with their eldest son Archie ‘excited’ and ‘very happy’ about the arrival of his little sister.
Buckingham Palace appeared to be caught off guard by the timing of the Sussexes’ news with a spokesman for the palace congratulating the couple 90 minutes after the announcement broke.
Sources have since confirmed the couple did not seek formal permission from the Queen to use the nickname but did inform her prior to the official announcement.
‘Lilibet’ was coined by the 95-year-old monarch when she was too young to pronounce her own name, first used by her grandfather George V and also by her husband Prince Philip until he died earlier this year.