Royal Author Claims Elizabeth Was 'Furious' When Harry and Meghan Stole Something Deeply Personal

Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have always described their relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth as close and affectionate, royal insiders have painted a contrasting picture. Biographer Robert Hardman once revealed that the Queen was particularly hurt by the pair when they stole something deeply personal. In his book Charles III: New King, New Court, The Inside Story, Hardman reveals that the Queen was 'furious' when the Sussexes chose the name 'Lilibet' for their daughter— a nickname that had been uniquely hers for years. As per reports, the Queen said, "The only thing I own is my name. And now they’ve taken that."

In June 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex proudly announced the arrival of their second child, baby girl Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. They stated, “Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet.” As reported by The Inquisitr, the couple’s spokesperson also said, “The Duke spoke with his family before the announcement; in fact, his grandmother was the first family member he called. During that conversation, he expressed their hope to name their daughter Lilibet in her honor. Had she not been supportive, they would not have chosen the name.”

However, behind closed doors, the Queen’s response was far from one of approval. Sources claimed that while she was consulted, she felt too hesitant to decline their decision. Hardman claimed, "Elizabeth II had been 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' in 2021 after the Sussexes announced that she had given them her blessing to call their baby daughter 'Lilibet,' the Queen's childhood nickname." He explained, "The couple had subsequently fired off warnings of legal action against anyone who dared to suggest otherwise, as the BBC had done." Royal biographer Angela Levin also expressed her criticism of the Sussexes' actions.

She claimed that Markle had reportedly trademarked the name even before her daughter was born, which allegedly angered the Queen. She said, “That’s an incredibly sad comment…because it was discovered that Meghan, even before Lilibet was born, had taken out the names officially so that she could use them to buy things and to identify them.” Levin opined that copyrighting the name was highly disrespectful. She accused Markle of using it as a way to fight back at the royal family.

The Queen was nicknamed Lilibet as a child as she struggled to pronounce her name. Her grandfather, King George V, affectionately called her with the moniker, mimicking her attempts to speak, as reported by BBC. Later in life, her husband Prince Philip was the only one to call her with it. When the Duke of Edinburgh passed on 9 April, 2021, the Queen famously signed her farewell note on his coffin with Lilibet.