It’s been almost two months since Harry and Meghan welcomed their baby daughter Lilibet. At first, they were criticized for naming her after both the Queen and Diana, but now, things seem to have calmed down.
At the same time, things have been very quiet about Lilibet. No picture has been published for the royal fans to see, but now, the Queen and Buckingham Palace have chosen to take action.
On the Royals’ official website, Lilibet’s name has now been published. And it seems like she has a chance of taking the throne in the future.
2021 has been a very tough year for Harry and Meghan, most notably the shocking Oprah Winfrey interview.
However, it has also been a year of love.
The couple announced that they were expecting their second child this summer, and on June 6, Harry and Meghan announced the wonderful news that their daughter had arrived.
A spokesperson for the couple said: “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.”
“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 in Santa Barbara, California. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home.”
Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor
“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 spokesperson 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.”
Following the birth of Harry and Meghan’s daughter Lilibet, congratulations poured in from all corners of the world.
Even though their relationship with the Royal Family isn’t at its best, the Firm also took the time to congratulate the proud parents of two.
“Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of Lilibet Diana!” a message on the Royal Family’s official Twitter account read.
“The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted with the news. Lilibet is Her Majesty’s 11th great-grandchild.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton, Lili’s aunt and uncle, also made sure to congratulate Harry and Meghan on the birth of Lili.
“We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie,” the message read.
Honoring the Queen and Diana
Weeks later, Kate also made a comment about Lilibet’s birth, telling reporters that she looked forward to meeting her and Meghan.
The name Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor sure is beautiful – and there are more tributes than the one to Diana.
Lilibet is actually a reference to Queen Elizabeth, whom was called “Lilibet” as a toddler. In fact, it was first used by then Princess Elizabeth, because she couldn’t pronounce her name correctly.
The Queen’s grandfather, King George V, also used to call her “Lilibet.” Since then, the name has stuck, as reported by The Guardian. She was called Lilibet by the innermost circle of family, with her late husband Prince Philip also referring to her by that moniker.
When Philip wrote to his mother-in-law following their wedding, he said: “Lilibet is the only ‘thing’ in the world which is absolutely real to me.”
Even though Harry and Meghan’s newborn daughter is named Lilibet, she will be known as “Lili.”
To honor both the Queen and Princess Diana by naming their daughter after them seems like a very nice thing to do. However, things go deeper than they first appear, if certain rumors are to be believed.
Harry and Meghan face criticism
In fact, Harry and Meghan are already facing heavy criticism over the names they chose for their beloved daughter. One critic, royal commentator Richard Kay, wrote in a column for the Daily Mail that Meghan and Harry might have taken things too far by naming their daughter Lilibet.
“By giving the baby the name Lilibet, the Queen’s private family nickname – even though they intend to use the diminutive ‘Lili’ for their daughter – there is a risk,” Kay wrote, as quoted by Express.
“Will it be seen as a presumptuous choice for a royal baby who is eighth in line to the throne, but who will grow up on the other side of the world speaking with an American accent?”
Kay added: “And how might Prince Charles feel about his fifth grandchild carrying such an intimate family pet name that he has never used himself? It is tempting to wonder if Harry would have been so emboldened in his choice if his grandfather Prince Philip – the only close family member permitted to call the Queen ‘Lilibet’ – had still been alive.”
“Doubtless, there will be among the more cautious courtiers at the Palace some discomfort and the odd raised eyebrow at this latest convention-destroying Exocet from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
When asked what the Queen will think of the girl’s name, royal expert Angela Levin told Good Morning Britain that she might even be offended.
‘Demeaning’ to use the name
“I think she’s desperately unhappy because they were desperately rude about her, I don’t think it’s a good idea. I think it’s quite rude to her Majesty the Queen,” Levin said, according to the Daily Mail.
She added: “It was a very private nickname from her husband who hasn’t been dead for very long. Prince Charles would never dream of referring to his mother as Lilibet.”
“He’s never used it – it was a special name, especially for the the Duke of Edinburgh’. She added she believes it was ‘demeaning’ for the Sussexes to have used it”.
Ever since the birth of Lilibet, things have been very quiet. Meghan and Harry have both chosen not do show any pictures of their beloved daughter, as their family now has grown to four.
During the Oprah interview, they also revealed that Lilibet will be their last child.
Almost two months have gone by since the birth of Lilibet Diana. And while the world is still waiting for a first glimpse of the little girl, news about Meghan’s health has come to light.
Harry and Meghan have taken some well-deserved family time together at their home in Montecito, California. And while Meghan has been resting, she seems to have recovered very quickly from the birth of their daughter.
According to the Daily Star, Meghan is already up on her feet.
“The couple has been relaxing at home since becoming proud parents of Lilibet,” the source said.
“[Meghan] is already back on her feet and walking the dogs.”
Harry stepping up
Since Meghan needs and deserves her rest, Harry has stepped up and is taking care of everything.
“Harry is a devoted family man and has been helping out around the house,” the source added.
“He picks vegetables from the garden to make fresh juices for Meghan and entertains Archie when she needs to rest up. He loves taking Archie to see the chickens or for a swim in the pool.”
Meghan Markle and Harry have left their senior roles within the Royal Family. And that comes with several big changes.
The couple can no longer carry out royal engagements and have lost their royal patronages. Further, they can’t use “royal” in their own branding, however they are permitted to use their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles.
Harry’s been very clear that he doesn’t want anything to do with the Firm. In addition, that means he probably won’t claim the throne if it would get to that point.
However, the reality is different for their children, at least in theory. Earlier this week, the Queen made a move on Lilibet – adding her to the line of succession.
When Meghan and Harry’s son Archie was born, Archie was placed in the line of succession. As it stands, Harry is in sixth place, and Archie in seventh.
Lilibet added to line of succession
Sure, it will take plenty of time for Harry, or Archie for that matter, to inherit the throne. But now that Lilibet has been born, the little girl also has a place at the big table.
Even though the family have moved to the US, it doesn’t mean that Harry and Meghan’s children won’t be able to inherit the throne.
Lilibet has even been added to the royal family’s website, in the section which explains the rules of the line of succession.
Lilibet has taken the place right after her big brother Archie in the eighth spot in the line of succession. Therefore, their great uncle Prince Andrew has been moved down to ninth.
But as they grow up to be adults, the chances of Archie and Lilibet getting closer to the throne will be less and less. If and when Kate and William’s children – George, Charlotte, and Louis – have their own children, they will be placed in higher positions than Archie and Lilibet.
As it stands now, this is the British Line of Succession.
1. The Prince of Wales (George)
2. The Duke of Cambridge (William)
3. Prince George of Cambridge
4. Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
5. Prince Louis of Cambridge
6. The Duke of Sussex (Harry)
7. Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
8. Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor
9. The Duke of York (Andrew)
10. Princess Beatrice
How did the line of succession even start? It goes back all the way to the late 1690s, which later culminated with the Act of Settlement in 1701.
Big change in 2013
In 2013, the biggest and most important change to the line of succession was made. Women were given equal rights to the throne. That meant when Prince Louis was born in 2018, he didn’t overtake his elder sister, Princess Charlotte’s spot in the line of succession.
The birth of Lilibet has brought a lot of joy to people all over the world. However, one family member didn’t even know she had been born.
Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle, spoke in a 60 Minutes Australia interview about his newborn granddaughter. However, he said he found out of her birth through the media.
“No phone calls, I just heard it on the radio,” he explained. “I’ll be very disappointed that I don’t get to hold my granddaughter.”
Thomas went on to slam Oprah for doing the interview with Harry and Meghan Markle. He claimed she ‘exploited’ both of them in order to make money.
Meghan’s father also asked to be forgiven for his one ‘dumb mistake’. It’s currently been three years since he and his daughter last spoke.
“I haven’t spoken to [Meghan] since two days before they got married,” Thomas said.
Thomas Markle warns of new ‘dirty laundry’
Thomas and Meghan’s relationship over the last number of years has been at rock bottom. He’s now warned that he’s prepared to air more ‘dirty laundry’ about Meghan and her relationship with Harry. As mentioned earlier, he hasn’t exactly been a paragon of confidentiality when it comes to holding back on things he know.
“You want dirty laundry? This is the first time I’ve discussed these things,” Thomas Markle said.
What do you think of the line of succession? Do you think William will become a good king, or would you rather see Harry as the one on the throne? Give us your thoughts in the comment section.
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