THERE’S no denying that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had a fraught relationship with the Royal Family since they announced they were quitting their roles in January 2020.
Just three months ago, the Duke and Duchess accused an unnamed royal of racial bias towards their son Archie during their bombshell interview with Oprah.
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And in his Apple TV+ series in May, Harry spoke openly about his strained relationship with Prince Charles and claimed the Palace showed “total neglect” for both his and Meghan’s mental health struggles.
But with the arrival of their new baby girl, the couple seem eager to end their alleged feud with the Royal Family – and touchingly named their little one Lilibet Diana after The Queen and the late Princess of Wales.
Here Fabulous explores the secret signs the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are regretting their royal split – from Lili’s sweet connection to her cousin Charlotte to their show of respect for The Queen.
Tribute to Philip AND The Queen
Before Harry and Meghan announced their happy news yesterday, bookmakers were predicting that the couple were going to call their baby girl Philippa as a tribute to the late Duke of Edinburgh – who passed away at the age of 99 in April.
Instead, the Duke and Duchess surprised everyone when they opted to pay tribute to The Queen instead.
As all fans of Netflix’s The Crown will already know, The Queen was given her nickname by her grandad King George V, who joked that she couldn’t pronounce her name Elizabeth as a child.
But aside from her parents, it’s less well-known that the only other person who called The Queen Lilibet was Prince Philip – and he used the nickname for over 70 years.
Royal author Phil Dampier told The Celeb Report last night: “I suspect Harry and Meghan have realised they’ve overdone their criticism in recent months and the penny has dropped that they’ve caused deep hurt to Harry’s gran and other family members.”
Sweet Princess Charlotte connection
What’s more, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have also given their daughter a sweet connection to Princess Charlotte with their choice of name.
Following in Kate Middleton and Prince William‘s footsteps, the couple chose Diana as Lilibet’s middle name – which she shares with Princess Charlotte.
On top of this, the two cousins – who have yet to meet – are further tied by their parents’ tributes to Her Majesty.
While Lilibet is named after The Queen, Kate and William’s daughter has Elizabeth as a middle name too.
Meanwhile, Royal expert Duncan Larcombe told Fabulous that Harry and Meghan were extending a “major olive branch” to the Royal Family with their choice of baby name.
Diana’s Love of Lilies
Further entwining their daughter’s name with Royal history, it’s reported that Meghan was drawn to the name “Lili” as her late mother-in-law had lilies of the valley in her wedding bouquet in 1981.
This is something the Duchess of Sussex replicated in 2018 when she included the emotionally-charged flowers in her own bouquet for her wedding to Prince Harry.
Meanwhile, the bridesmaids at the wedding – including Princess Charlotte – also had this poignant flower detail in their flower crown too.
Show of respect to The Queen
Earlier this year, it was reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had “blindsided” The Queen when their tell-all interview with Oprah was announced.
However, the Duke and Duchess informed The Queen ahead of time that they were planning on naming their daughter after her, The Times reports.
Buckingham Palace officials were said to be unaware the baby had been born until the announcement came out at 5pm on social media, according to Mail.
The Palace declined to discuss when the Queen was informed of the safe arrival of her newest great-grandchild – or whether she was advised on Lili’s name.
Harry & Wills’ reunion
He may live thousands of miles away from his brother these days – but in April, Prince Harry made the journey across the Atlantic to support his family and say goodbye to his beloved grandfather.
Prince Philip‘s funeral marked the first time Prince Harry and Prince William were together since the Commonwealth Service last year – and the brothers made an effort to put on a united front.
As they removed their black facemasks, lip readers claim that Harry told his brother that the funeral service “was as he wanted”, according to Express, referring to the late Duke of Edinburgh.
It’s claimed the Duke of Cambridge, 38, said in response, “yes, it was great, wasn’t it” as they walked behind Prince Philip’s coffin before the service at Windsor Castle.
What’s more, Prince Harry is expected to make the journey again next month to unveil a new Princess Diana statue with his brother to mark what would have been her 60th birthday.
In more Royal Family news, fans spotted Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s new baby Lilibet has a special link to Princess Diana with birth date.
And royal fans praise ‘class act’ Kate Middleton and Prince William’s baby message to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
Plus Archie ‘adores baby sister Lilibet’ and has been giving her ‘lots of kisses’ as Meghan Markle returns home from hospital.
