Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are pushing back against a BBC report claiming they didn’t consult Queen Elizabeth II before naming their daughter Lilibet. The BBC, citing an anonymous “palace source,” reported that the Queen was “absolutely adamant” she wasn’t consulted about the name.
In response, lawyers for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex issued a statement calling the BBC’s claims “false and defamatory.” A spokesperson for the couple told NBC News that Harry did indeed speak with the Queen before the name announcement. They emphasized that the name Lilibet wouldn’t have been used if the Queen hadn’t expressed her support.
This incident rekindles tensions between Harry and Meghan and the royal family, coming mere weeks after the BBC issued an apology for a controversial 1995 interview with Princess Diana.
The couple’s choice of the name Lilibet, a childhood nickname used by Queen Elizabeth, was widely perceived as an attempt to mend their fractured relationship with the royal family.
While Harry maintains he sought his grandmother’s approval, discrepancies remain in the timelines presented by both sides. The public announcement of Lilibet Diana’s birth occurred on a Sunday, and Harry claims he spoke with the Queen before then. However, the BBC’s source alleges that Harry did not consult the Queen before Friday, the day of Lilibet’s birth.
This discrepancy leaves open the possibility that a conversation about the name took place on Saturday, reconciling both accounts. However, the BBC has not retracted its original report, leaving the situation unresolved.
