The Duke of Sussex hinted he liked the name Lili two years ago.
Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, welcomed daughter Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor - who is named after Queen Elizabeth, and Harry's late mother, Princess Diana - into the world on Friday (04.06.21), but the 36-year-old royal dropped a huge hint he was a fan of the moniker during a royal engagement in January 2019.
Harry and Meghan - who was pregnant with their two-year-old son Archie at the time - attended an event in Birkenhead, Merseyside, north west England, where they met mother-of-three Rebecca Blundell and her two daughters, Lily, six, and two-year-old Lottie, and she noted the duke asked how Lily's name was spelt.
Rebecca said at the time: "Prince Harry came over first and chatted to my two year old then spoke to my six-year-old Lily and then as he was walking off, he turned back and he asked Lily if she spelt her name with a 'i' or 'y'.
"I straight away thought that must be a name choice.
"Meghan then came and I asked her if she was excited for the impending arrival. She said she was thrilled and that Harry would be a fantastic father.
"I replied that she would be a fantastic mother and she looked really touched.
"She was so calm and at ease in the crowd."
A spokesperson for the duke and duchess, 39, revealed Lili was in fact named after the queen, because her family nickname is Lilibet, and the newborn's middle name is after Harry's mother Diana, who died in 1997 aged 36.
They said: "Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."
Harry and Meghan revealed Lilibet was born at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California.
They said in a statement: "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.
"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. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home."
A statement from the couple, posted on their Archewell Foundation charity website, also read: "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."
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