Princess Eugenie, earlier this year, welcomed a son named Ernest George with her husband Jack Brooksbank. Moreover, several other cousins within the royal family, including Princess Beatrice, Prince Harry, and Prince William, have started their families. This new generation of royals has garnered significant public interest.
In the spotlight this week was a resurfaced story related to the late Queen's involvement in royal births. Queen Elizabeth held considerable influence when it came to welcoming new royal arrivals, a tradition likely to be passed down to King Charles. Reportedly, she was the first person to be informed upon the birth of a royal baby, and it's been suggested that if she didn't approve of the chosen baby name, it would likely be changed.
Princess Beatrice's name, for instance, underwent such a change. Initially, her parents had intended to name her Annabelle, but the Queen found this name less suitable and suggested Beatrice instead. While it took two weeks before Beatrice's name was officially announced, all family members were reportedly content with the change, as the name was both royal enough for the Queen and unique enough to please Sarah Ferguson.
In contrast, when Meghan and Harry named their first daughter after the Queen, the decision sparked controversy. Naming their child Lilibet was viewed by many as a diplomatic issue within the British royal family. Meghan had reportedly written letters to the Queen requesting permission to use her childhood nickname, but the Queen remained silent, possibly due to concerns that Meghan might exploit the letters for media purposes.
Tom Quinn, author of "Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family," explained that naming their daughter Lilibet was a contentious choice. While Meghan and Harry may have seen it as a delightful surprise for Queen Elizabeth, some commentators perceived it as disrespectful and intrusive. It appeared as if they were attempting to emphasize their royal connections as they transitioned to life in the United States.
Quinn suggested that the Queen might have been upset by this decision, as it involved her intimate childhood nickname. Furthermore, the choice to use "Lilibet" as a name for their daughter caused some consternation among the older members of the royal family, who may have seen it as presumptuous.
