Harry and Meghan Reject Claim on Lilibet Name

On 09/06/2021, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, publicly rejected a BBC report that claimed they had not sought permission from Queen Elizabeth II to use her childhood nickname, “Lilibet,” for their newborn daughter. The couple’s response came shortly after the birth of their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, who was born on 04/06/2021 in California. The BBC report, citing a palace source, stated that Queen Elizabeth II had not been asked in advance about the use of the nickname, which had long been associated personally with the monarch and used by close family members. In response, representatives for the Duke and Duchess issued a statement asserting that Prince Harry had spoken with the Queen prior to the announcement and would not have used the name without her support. They described the report as inaccurate and disputed its claims. Following the publication of the article, legal representatives for the Sussexes sent a letter to the BBC and other media outlets, warning against repeating what they described as false allegations. The BBC later stated that it stood by its reporting, maintaining that its story was based on reliable sources. The exchange highlighted ongoing tensions between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and sections of the British media, particularly regarding the reporting of private family matters. It also drew attention to the significance of the name “Lilibet,” which originated from Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood pronunciation of her own name and had been used within the royal family for decades.