Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Welcome Baby Girl, Named After Diana And Queen Elizabeth
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcomed their daughter last Friday.
“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,” read the official statement on the Archewell website released Sunday.
The statement continues, “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, CA. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home...the Duke and Duchess thank you for your warm wishes and prayers as they enjoy this special time as a family.”
Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, whose family nickname is Lilibet, and after her grandmother, Princess Diana. According to the BBC, “Lilibet — the Queen's family nickname — was coined when then-Princess Elizabeth was just a toddler and couldn't pronounce her name properly. Her grandfather, King George V, would affectionately call her Lilibet, imitating her own attempts to say her name. It soon stuck and she became Lilibet to her family from then on.”
Meghan and Harry’s daughter is the Queen's 11th great-grandchild and is eighth in line to the throne. She is also eligible to become president of the United States.
Meghan and Harry also shared a personal message on their Archewell website, writing, "On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili. 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. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family." No pictures have been released.
Buckingham Palace said, "The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed and are delighted with the news."
Meghan and Harry revealed during their Oprah interview that they do not plan on having any more children following the birth of their daughter. Meghan experienced a miscarriage in July 2020, and their son Archie is now two years old.