The Sweet Meaning Behind Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Daughter's Name
June 6 2021, Published 1:26 p.m. ET
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their baby girl into the world on June 4 — and the meaning behind the interesting and unique moniker is quite special.
On Sunday, June 6, it was revealed the pair named their daughter Lilibet Diana, but the plan on calling her "Lili."
Queen Elizabeth was called Lilibet as a child, and her late husband, Prince Philip, also used the nickname for her throughout their marriage. In fact, after Philip died, the matriarch, 95, put a handwritten note on top of his coffin, which she signed, "Lilibet."
The Queen's father, King George VI, once said: "Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy."
Meanwhile, Lili's middle name is Diana, named after Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car accident in 1997.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl predicted the couple would want to pay tribute to the late princess. "Maybe not in her first name, but I am sure it's very high up on the list in terms of a second Christian name, and I think that is quite simply because it would be [a way] for Harry to pay tribute to his mother. Of course, the Cambridges gave Charlotte Diana as a middle name, I don't think that precludes Harry and Meghan from doing that type of same thing. I think it's very likely to be chosen as a middle name."
"It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world," a spokesperson for the couple said on June 6.
"Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital," the statement said, adding that the new tot weighs 7lbs 11 oz and "both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home."
"Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales," the statement added. "This is the second child for the couple, who also have a two-year-old son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The Duke and Duchess thank you for your warm wishes and prayers as they enjoy this special time as a family."
Meghan and Harry also gushed about their new arrival on their Archewell website, writing, "On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili. She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family."
