Harry and Meghan Share New Photo of Lilibet, Who Is Named After the Queen
Prince Harry and Meghan have shared an adorable photo of their daughter Lilibet, seen smiling on the grass at a picnic in Windsor. Their second child was named after her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, whose family nickname was Lilibet because she struggled to pronounce her first name as a child. The one-year-old Lilibet’s middle name, Diana, is a nod to her late grandmother, the Princess of Wales.
Harry and Meghan are currently in the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. This is their first public appearance in Britain together since 2020, as the couple retain their home in Santa Barbara, California. The recent royal events have also presented an opportunity for the 96-year-old Queen to meet her great-granddaughter the first time, though there’s been no confirmation as to whether or not the Queen has encountered Lilibet face-to-face yet.
Lilibet — who is now eighth in line to the throne — celebrated her first birthday on Saturday and wore a sweet blue dress for the occasion. This photo of her was taken by family friend Misan Harriman, according to a spokesperson for the duke and duchess — but it wasn’t posted publicly until Monday, after the Jubilee weekend had concluded. This was presumably a deliberate choice, as Harry and Meghan have stepped back from the limelight in recent years and wouldn’t want to steal attention from the Queen. The first photo of Lilibet came in a family Christmas card of 2021.
The birth of the queen’s eleventh great-grandchild follows a turbulent period of relations between the royal family and Harry and Meghan. The couple gave up their royal duties and relocated to Southern California in 2020, citing the relentless harassment of Meghan by British press. They also discussed their criticisms of the royal family in a now-infamous Oprah interview.
However, it seems that in giving Lilibet the Queen’s namesake, Harry and Meghan hope to honor both the monarch and their royal lineage. Perhaps this is a sign of respect, or a subtle indication that both parties have begun to heal.
