The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement that the name Lili is for Harry’s grandmother,Queen Elizabeth, whose family nickname is Lilibet. But the name has been on the proud dad’s radar for at least a couple of years.
Back when Meghan and Harry were expecting Archie in 2019, they visited the town of Birkenhead andheard name suggestionsfrom a group of school children. During the outing, Harry showed an interest in the name “Lily,” asking a mother how she spelled her daughter’s flower-inspired name.
“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 couple shared in a statement on Sunday. “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.”
Queen Elizabeth and the royal familyshared their “delight” over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s news in a statement on Sunday.
“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 of the birth of a daughter for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said.
According to Harry, a photo of his late mother, who tragically died at age 36 following a car crash in Paris in 1997, is currently hanging in Archie’s nursery at their home in Montecito, California.
“I got a photo of her in his nursery, and it was one of the first words that he said — apart from ‘mama,’ ‘papa,’ it was then ‘grandma’. Grandma Diana,” he shared. “It’s the sweetest thing, but at the same time, it makes me really sad because she should be here.”
Meghan Markle and Archie.The Duke of Sussex/@SaveChildrenUK
Harry also reflected on the loss of Diana.
“I wish she could’ve met Meghan,” he said. “I wish she was around for Archie.”
Listen below toour daily podcast PEOPLE Every Dayfor more onPrince HarryandMeghan Markle’s new daughter, Lilibet Diana.
Still, the father of two believes his mother would have been proud of the man he is today and the life that he’s created for his family.
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
“Yeah, I have no doubt that my mom would be incredibly proud of me. I’m living the life that she wanted to live for herself, living the life that she wanted us to be able to live,” he said.“So not only do I know that she’s incredibly proud of me, but that she’s helped me get here. And I’ve never felt her presence more as I have done over the last year.”
source: people.com
