Today marks an important milestone as Princess Lilibet, the daughter of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, celebrates her fourth birthday.
Her name, a heartfelt homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II, carries deep royal significance.
Unlike many of her royal relatives who incorporated Elizabeth as a middle name for their children, the Sussexes opted for Lilibet, a cherished nickname used only in intimate family circles.
This affectionate term was first uttered by her grandfather, King George V, when a young Elizabeth struggled to say her own name.
While the couple intended this name as a sincere tribute, it appears that the choice did not sit well with the late monarch.
Reports suggest that she expressed her disappointment through an aide, lamenting, “I don’t own the palaces, I don’t own the paintings, the only thing I own is my name.
And now they’ve taken that.”
In Robert Hardman’s biography of King Charles, an insider revealed that Elizabeth was visibly upset, stating she was “as angry as I’d ever seen her” following Harry and Meghan’s announcement about the name.
The feelings of discontent reportedly stemmed from the couple’s public claim that they wouldn’t have chosen the name Lilibet without her support.
Adding to the intrigue, BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond noted that a source from within the Palace claimed the Queen was never consulted by Harry and Meghan regarding the use of her childhood nickname.
This revelation sparked considerable debate about whether the couple had truly sought her permission.
In defense of their actions, a spokesperson for the Sussexes firmly claimed that Harry reached out to the Queen before naming their daughter after her.
They argued that if she had disapproved, they wouldn’t have proceeded with that choice, emphasizing the close bond they believed they shared.
Perhaps trying to counter any negative perceptions, the Sussexes’ legal team moved swiftly to address the BBC’s reports, labeling them as “false and defamatory.”
They threatened legal action if these assertions continued circulating, but the BBC stood firm in its reporting.
Despite registering the name Lilibet Diana as a domain prior to her birth and suggesting they had sought the Queen’s blessing, suspicion lingered around the couple’s narrative.
Buckingham Palace remained resolute in its stance, reportedly refusing to align itself with Harry and Meghan’s version of events, which led to the Meghan and Harry’s threats seemingly fading away.
Interestingly, the name Lilibet saw a resurgence in popularity following its use by the Sussexes.
Prior to 2021, only a handful of girls bore the name, but that number has since climbed to over 60 registrations as parents seem inspired by the royal connection.
All the while, despite their children’s growing notoriety, Harry and Meghan have made it a priority to provide a semblance of normalcy for Lilibet and her older brother, Archie.
They refrain from sharing frequent pictures of their children in public, instead favoring privacy over publicity.
However, glimpses into their lives do occasionally surface.
Meghan recently shared a delightful video of herself and Lilibet dressed in coordinating beekeeping suits, giving fans a rare closer look at their daughter during a sweet outing.
During a celebratory post marking her seventh wedding anniversary with Harry, Meghan provided an insight into their family life, albeit carefully omitting specific milestones that royal followers might have anticipated, like a more detailed mention of her marital journey.
In a world filled with royal scrutiny, the couple seems committed to shielding their children from the limelight while expressing their love and joy through personal anecdotes shared in their unique way.
This blend of public and private, tradition and modernity, showcases the balancing act they navigate as they honor both heritage and personal significance.
