Prince Harry and Meghan call BBC report regarding daughter Lilibet’s name 'false and defamatory'
Just days after the birth of their second child, named Lilibet to honour Queen Elizabeth, Britain's Prince Harry and wife Meghan have become embroiled in a spat with the BBC over whether they had consulted the monarch first.
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, on Sunday announced the birth of daughter Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California.
Her name, they said, was a tribute to Harry's grandmother, the queen, whose family nickname was Lilibet, while it also honoured his late mother, Princess Diana.
According to the BBC, the nickname Lilibet was coined when she was a toddler and unable to pronounce her name correctly.
Some royal commentators said the move appeared to be an olive branch to his family after the very public falling out following their explosive interview with US chat show host Oprah Winfrey in March.
During the interview, they accused one unidentified royal of making a racist remark and said Meghan's pleas for help when she felt suicidal were ignored.
However, in a twist on Wednesday, the BBC, quoting an unnamed palace source, reported that the couple had not sought permission from Elizabeth before they chose the name Lilibet.
The couple said the queen had been the first family member they had called.
"During that conversation, he (Harry) shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour," their spokesperson said.
Lawyers for the duke and duchess have now sent a letter to some media organisations, saying the BBC article was "false and defamatory" and the allegations should not be repeated.
The BBC had no immediate response to the letter. Buckingham Palace said it had no comment.
Publicly, the queen has issued a statement to say she was delighted about the birth, as did Harry's elder brother, Prince William, and wife Catherine, whose relationship with the couple has also deteriorated.
In a speech on Tuesday, Harry's father Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, said it was "happy news".
