Queen Elizabeth and Princess Lilibet's name drama explained after Harry and Meghan called rumours a 'smear campaign'
The Queen's childhood nickname was LilibetThe late Queen Elizabeth II was reportedly unhappy that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had “taken” her childhood name, Lilibet, to give to their daughter – but the Sussexes later disputed the hurtful ‘smear campaign’.
The late monarch was alleged to have fumed to aides about the Sussexes’ decision, a royal expert previously claimed.
However Prince Harry and Meghan’s camp, and sources close to the couple, disputed the claims, detailing they consulted with the monarch about their plans of the tribute.
We look at the drama that unfolded over Princess Lilibet‘s name and what we know about the Queen’s feelings at the time.
Was the Queen upset about Lilibet’s name?
A King Charles biography, written by Robert Hardman, claimed that an aide said that the Queen was “‘as angry as I’d ever seen her” after Harry and Meghan announced they wouldn’t have named Lilibet without Her Majesty’s support.
The royal author claimed the Queen was irate over the Sussex’s decision in 2021.
MailOnline further wrote that the Queen was backed into a corner with regards to the Sussexes naming their daughter after her.
“The then 95-year-old monarch was taken aback when she was told by her grandson of his intention to give his daughter the name Lilibet in her honour but didn’t feel, given the circumstances, she could say no,” an insider previously claimed.
The outlet also alleged the royal told her own aides: “I don’t own the palaces, I don’t own the paintings, the only thing I own is my name. And now they’ve taken that.”
Digital Box previously contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
Did Harry get permission use Lilibet?
At the time of Princess Lilibet’s birth, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex maintained that Prince Harry had consulted with the late Queen beforehand over the name.
He said they would not have used the name if the monarch wasn’t supportive over the idea.
A spokesperson said at the time: “The duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement – in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called.
“During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.”
Sources speak out
But a source claimed to the Daily Mail it was not the case: “Harry and Meghan presented this to the Queen as: ‘We’re going to call her Lilibet. Isn’t that great.
“The palace version was that they didn’t ask. The Queen was asked to prop up their version of events that didn’t match her own. She wasn’t furious about using the name Lilibet, it was the way it was handled.”
However, the opposing allegation was backed up by another source from the BBC who was told by a palace insider the Queen was not consulted over the name Lilibet before the princess was born.
A source close to Meghan and Harry refuted the claims again in 2024: “Meghan and Harry 100 percent got permission from the queen to use the name Lilibet.
“The report is not true. [Harry and Meghan] don’t know where this is coming from. They’re shocked that this is coming now; It seems out of nowhere and out of left field. They just feel like it’s more of the same spear campaign that continues against them.”
Meghan Markle discusses ‘baby names’ on her podcast
Meghan caused raised eyebrows in May 2025 on her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder where she appeared to give advice over baby names.
She said: “I will say this to every woman in the world or every person in the world who’s going to have a child – if you have an idea about what you are going to name that baby, you keep it so close to your heart until that baby is born and it’s named.
“Don’t ask anyone’s opinion.”
Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s surname drama explained and how royal family would take ‘action’
Why was Queen Elizabeth II given the nickname Lilibet?
The late Queen would call herself Lilibet when she was toddler as she reportedly had difficulty pronouncing her full name.
Other members of The Firm would affectionately call her by the new moniker as a nickname, including her father King George V.
She also signed her name as Lilibet on the funeral wreath for the funeral of close friend Earl Mountbatten. Her late husband, Prince Philip, would also call her Lilibet.
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