MEGHAN & HARRY’S BABY JOY
‘We’re creating our own legacy’
The birth of a royal baby is always cause for celebration – and the arrival of little Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor is no exception. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s daughter arrived on Friday,
June 4, weighing a healthy 3.2kg (or 7lb 11oz – 8oz more than her big brother Archie). Meghan gave birth at the exclusive Santa Barbara Cottage
Hospital, near the couple’s home in Montecito, California, making the baby, who will be known as Lili, a dual citizen both of America and the UK.
The Queen’s 11th great-grandchild and eighth in line to the throne, like her big brother, she won’t have a royal title, although she could become a princess when Charles becomes king.
Announcing Lili’s birth, the joyful parents said, “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.”
Harry and Meghan explained that “Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty the Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name,
Diana, was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.”
Coincidentally, Lili was born 25 years to the day Princess Diana visited Northwestern University in Illinois – the same place that Meghan earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre and international studies.
Lili’s great-grandmother, grandparents and aunt and uncle responded to the news of her arrival with heartfelt messages of congratulations, saying the family was delighted.
Prince William, 38, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, 39, were quick to pass on their best wishes to Harry and Meghan and their son Archie, two, and expressed their happiness at the news. A palace insider says they sent a gift to their niece as soon as possible.
Harry’s father Prince Charles, 72, and stepmother Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 73, sent their well wishes – Lili is Charles’ fifth grandchild.
Meanwhile, Meghan’s dad Thomas Markle, 76, who has been estranged from his daughter since her marriage to
Lilibet Diana Mountbatten -Windsor Born June 4, 2021 3.2kg Weight (7lb 11oz)
Harry in 2018, said he was very pleased to hear the news. “I wish them all my love and the best of luck.”
Within days of her birth, the latest addition to the royal family had already “met” family members in the UK, including the Queen, 95, via video call, with a source saying Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, were “very excited and couldn’t wait to share that their daughter arrived” as soon as they got home from hospital.
Choosing to honour the Queen with their daughter’s name has been seen in some circles as an attempt by Harry and Meghan to mend the rift that has rocked the royal family since the pair left their senior roles and moved to the US.
Little Lili could prove to be a “band-aid baby”, say royal commentators, bringing the family closer together.
The royal family was left reeling by details revealed by the Sussexes in several interviews, including Harry’s comment that he wanted to break the cycle of “genetic pain” passed on from previous generations of his family. This was seen as a criticism of the parenting of both his father Charles and his grandmother the Queen.
Royal author Phil Dampier says the choice of name may be Meghan and Harry’s way of apologising.
“I suspect Harry and Meghan have realised they’ve overdone the criticism in recent months, and the penny has dropped that they have caused deep hurt to
Harry’s gran and other family members. They might be trying to undo some of the damage.”
Harry’s decision to honour the two women who played a significant part in shaping who he is may be a sign that although he has walked away from The Firm, he still has a lot of respect for family members and feels a strong connection to his heritage.
Lili may be destined to lead a life that involves very little royal influence because of her parents’ decision to go their own way, but her birth could pave the way to closer relations, says royal correspondent Richard Kay.
“How often have new babies brought reconciliations to warring families?” he points out. “The healing power of baby
Lili could be vital to resolving the sadness at the heart of the royal family.
However, choosing someone else’s treasured nickname for their daughter may prove to have been a risky move for
Harry and Meghan, says
Richard. “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? 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.”
In fact, there are those who think calling their baby Lilibet was not a good move.
Royal writer Angela Levin says, “I think it’s quite rude to Her Majesty the Queen. It was a special name, especially for the Duke of Edinburgh, who hasn’t been dead for very long.”
It is understood that the Queen was informed by Harry that his daughter would be named in her honour shortly before the official announcement, but there has been no indication of what her response was.
The choice of name aside, Lili’s arrival has given the family a
‘The healing power of Lili could be vital to resolving the sadness’
good reason to reach out to each other at a time when such contact is very much needed.
“It’s a rare opportunity for no-strings-attached communications, focused purely on joy,” says a palace source. “Little Lili’s arrival will obviously not be a magic cure that erases the past and instantly makes everyone close again, but her birth could well be the first steps on that path to reconciliation.”
The Queen has apparently invited Harry to join her for a special lunch at Windsor Castle when he flies to the UK next month for the unveiling of a statue dedicated to his mother Princess Diana. It’s highly unlikely that he will be accompanied by Meghan and the children, as it will be just weeks since she has given birth, but a one-on-one meeting with his grandmother would definitely be a move in the right direction.
Lili could get to meet her namesake and the rest of her royal relatives next year if Harry decides to take his family to the UK to join in the celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – marking 70 years on the throne – in June 2022.
In the meantime, Harry and Meghan will be making the most of their time with their new bundle of joy.
Journalist Omid Scobie, co-author of the book Finding Freedom, explains the couple will be taking several months’ parental leave to spend time with their precious newborn, which is what they encourage people who work for their Archewell charitable foundation to do.
“We’re so used to seeing royal men heading back to work almost the next day – sometimes the same day after the birth of a child,” says Omid.
“But Harry and Meghan are sort of leading by example with their Archewell foundation. They offer up to 20 weeks’ parental leave for mother and father. They’re doing exactly the same, so it’ll be several months off work for the pair of them.”