A lot, actually. While the sentiment is sweet, the name is one that’s deeply personal to someone who is arguably one of the most famous figures of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor arrived on June 4th, making her 8th in line to the throne that her parents unofficially/seemingly want nothing to do (or so most assume, see: the Oprah interview, Harry’s Armchair Expert interview, Apple+’s “The Me You Don’t See”). Alas, a blood royal is a blood royal is a blood royal, and Lili is named after two of the most influential royal women in modern history: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales. So, just like in January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex kind of want to hold on to their royal ties, but only a little.
Andrew Parsons / Parsons Media/POLARIS
It’s important to place great emphasis on the nickname Harry and Meghan have chosen as the Christian name for their daughter, because was always a nickname. One that the Queen, a very private person, was called only by her late husband, her parents and close friends. In fact, HM’s personal note attached to floral arrangement on Prince Philip’s casket at funeral read, “Your Loving Lilibet.”
Even with Her Majesty’s blessing, which according to royal reporter Katie Nicholl the couple did receive, some experts believe it would have wiser to err on the side of respect and choose her full name, Elizabeth.
“In today’s tense climate, when everyone is walking on eggshells with Harry and Meghan, I can’t imagine that the Queen had any choice but to accept the name they presented to her, even if she felt—as would be completely understandable—that it breaches her privacy with a suggestion of inappropriate intimacy,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told Nicholl in a recent Vanity Fair article.
Do you think the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should have gone with a more formal name for their daughter?
The name, Lili, would have been beautiful and unusual. The use of the Queen’s nickname seems to be a little bit of a stunt that has marred a lively occasion. It also would have been pretty perfect to have honored both Diana and Doria with the middle names. That would have also celebrated both sides of the family and the baby’s multicultural heritage. It almost seems as if Harry picked the names without Meghan, even though she did all the work. I like the nickname they chose for the baby though and hope that she will help heal the family rift.
That’s very well said!
“Lili” is unusual? The spelling, perhaps, but the name itself isn’t all that out of the ordinary.
I believe the baby was born on June 4.
I stand corrected!
No No No they should not of used our Queens personal private nickname used by Prince Philip.
They do not want to be part of our Royal Family so why give the baby two names of royalty.
It is not cleaver and doesn’t come anywhere close to mending the hurt they have done already.
They always seem to try and be better than anything our Royale do.
Diana and Queen Elizabeth are HARRY’S actual family, not yours. He is free to honor the women in his life how he wants, regardless of how strangers feel about it. He has said time and time again that the Queen has always supported them and he has immense respect for her, so honoring her was likely always his plan should he have a daughter.