Problems between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the royal family have been well covered. By far one of the things that sparked much controversy is the naming of their daughter, Princess Lilibet Diana. As for the Sussexes, they have alleged that everything was fine between them and the late Queen Elizabeth II, even though royal sources suggest otherwise, starting with the Queen’s favorite nickname.
The Sussexes’ Announcement and Intentions
Later in the year, in June 2021, Harry and Meghan brought into the world their second child, Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. They said that the name was in honor of both Queen Elizabeth II and his mother, Princess Diana, who was also known as Diana Frances Diana. The couple said that they had sought the approval of the queen for the name and that she had agreed. Still, this assertion was closely followed by controversy in royal corridors.
Conflicting Narratives
However, Prince Harry and Meghan continue to state they had the Queen’s approval to make this decision while others claim otherwise. Some sources suggest that it might have been Harry who might have told the Queen about the name and then asked her permission. These appeared to be clear signals in the public domain, yet, for a group of people, to others in the royal household particularly, the media statements made by the couple were frustrating and rather misleading.
Royal commentators have pointed out that Princess Lilibet was a favorite name for the Queen within the family circle. It is said to have provoked severe disappointment from the monarch’s peers according to the decision to use it. Some insiders who viewed the tribute as vulgar said that a simple bow would have been proper.
A Symbol of Growing Tensions
The controversy over Princess Lilibet’s naming triggered more evident the disagreement between the Sussexes and the royal family. Harry and Meghan Markle made dozens of decisions since they both stepped down from their senior positions in 2020, many of which raised tensions within the royal household. While the duo claim that their action was born out of love and respect, this case carries the hallmarks of some of the existing controversies that define their stand with the royal family.
