The anything but random choice of the name of Harry and Meghan's daughter
The baby's name is a clear homage to her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, Lilibet for her close relatives, and of course to her late grandmother Diana, Harry's mother. The choice to give two such significant names has hit the mark
At 11:40 am on Friday 4 June, Lilibet 'Lili' Diana, second child of the Dukes of Sussex, Harry Windsor and Meghan Markle, was born. The baby, who weighs 3 kilos and 400 grams, was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California. The happy event, however, was only announced on Sunday, two days late. It was the parents themselves who broke the news by posting a long message on the home page of Archewell, the couple's charitable foundation.
The little girl's name is a clear homage to her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, Lilibet for close relatives, and of course to the late grandmother Diana, Harry's mother. The choice to give two such significant names has hit the mark. Lilibet in particular is the affectionate nickname that Prince consort Philip used to call the queen in intimacy. The couple therefore wanted to pay homage to the more human and private side of the sovereign but also to the little girl's great-grandfather, who died on April 9th.
Octave in line of succession
Lilibet Diana is the last to arrive and is eighth in the line of succession, ousting and pulling back to ninth Andrea, Duke of York. "She is more than anything we could have imagined - wrote Harry and Meghan in their announcement - and we are deeply grateful for the prayers and support received from all over the world. Thank you for your continued kindness and support at this time. special for our family ".
In reality, Harry and Meghan were not always treated with "kindness". The couple has in fact often ended up in the eye of the British press, especially since, amid much controversy, they decided to stop working for the Crown and move to the United States, in open conflict with the rest of the royal family.
During the famous interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry had spoken openly about the disagreements with his father Carlo and with his brother William and Meghan had told how she had felt "silenced" by the royal house and never supported. Both, however, had wanted to underline all their affection for the queen, deliberately leaving her out of any kind of controversy.
An affectionate tribute but out of tradition
The choice to call his daughter Lilibet is certainly an affectionate homage but it also represents the clear intention to distance himself from tradition and to reiterate the rejection of royal trappings and bombastic names. The British media are wondering if the choice of the name is a kind of openness to dialogue with the Crown in a moment of great tension between one side of the Atlantic and the other, but if Lilibet Diana will be the expedient to reunite a torn family internal conflicts will only be discovered in time.
