On June 7, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle confirmed the safe arrival of their baby girl. Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born on Friday at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California. A press secretary for the family revealed both the mother and child were doing well.
The couple 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 11.40am in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California.
“She weighed 7lbs 11oz (3.5kg). Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home.”
“Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet,” the couple explained. “Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.
“This is the second child for the couple, who also have a two-year-old son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
“The Duke and Duchess thank you for your warm wishes and prayers as they enjoy this special time as a family.”
The Queen’s nickname came about when she was just a toddler. According to The Guardian, the Queen was unable to pronounce her full name as a toddler so her grandfather, King George V called her “Lilibet”, lovingly mocking the pronunciation.
Prince Harry’s estranged brother, Prince William and wife Princess Kate published well wishes on social media to mark the arrival of Lilibet. On the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Instagram page, the couple wrote, “We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie.”
At the time of publishing, the couple are yet to release an image of Lilibet or themselves.
The happy news arrives after it was revealed Markle suffered a miscarriage in July, 2020. The Duchess published a heartbreaking article on the experience to the New York Times in November.
In May the couple celebrated their third wedding anniversary after being wed at St George’s Chapel at Windsor.
