Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their first daughter to the world this weekend, and followed it up with an announcement that surprised many around the globe and reportedly even caught Buckingham Palace off-guard.
In the weeks and months leading up to the birth of their daughter, both Harry and Meghan had been guarded about details about the baby’s birth, including the exact due date and the name they had picked out. It turned out the two had planned a name to honor two special women.
Sussexes Welcome Baby Girl
As People magazine reported, the couple released a statement on Sunday announcing the arrival of their daughter and sharing her name for the first time.
“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,” the statement read.
As the report noted, Lili was born on Friday at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. It added that both mother and daughter are doing well.
Name Takes Special Meaning
As the statement added, both first and last names for the newborn girl have special meaning to the family as Prince Harry chose to honor his grandmother and late mother.
“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 report noted.
Prince Harry has spoken frequently about the special bond he shared with his mother, who died tragically in a car accident when he was 12.
Announcement Came As Surprise
As The Daily Mail reported, the couple had already informed Queen Elizabeth II that they planned to honor her with their daughter’s name, but the announcement still appeared to catch the royal family by surprise.
“It is understood the Queen was informed by Prince Harry that her great-grandchild would be named in her honour, ahead of their official announcement which was made on their official website,” the report noted.
“However, Buckingham Palace appeared to be caught off guard by the timing of the Sussexes’ news with a spokesman for the palace congratulating the couple 90 minutes after the announcement broke.”
Harry And Meghan In America
While the report did not hint at any ill will or tensions between the couple and the royal family, the missed timing in the announcement comes amid reports of ongoing tensions. Prince Harry and his wife had decided to step away from their royal duties and move to the United States, a decision that generated some controversy and led to speculation of a rift within the family. The couple added to those rumors with a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in which Harry dished about racism that his wife had faced from some within the royal family.
