PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to name their daughter Lilibet has been blasted as a purely “strategic move” by model Caprice.
The unimpressed American star has also claimed the Sussexes’ popularity is plummeting in the US as “people don’t care as much about them”.
The couple’s choice to name their daughter Lilibet has been seen by some royal commentators as an attempt to repair damaged relations with the Royal family, after they complained about them on TV.
But, Caprice, the CEO of By Caprice Home, told the Sun Online: “I was shocked to hear Meghan and Harry had named their daughter Lilibet Diana.
“The Queen is so intensely private – this was a very intimate name Prince Philip used to call her, but with total discretion, he never called her that publicly.”
She added: “There have been rumours that Meghan is terrified she will lose her title which will have a huge impact on her revenue stream.
“I think it was more of a strategic move, rather than coming from the heart, to name their new baby Lilibet Diana.
“People worldwide are astute to what is going on.
“In the States they are a little more forgiving because Meghan and Harry are not as well known – and people quite frankly don’t care as much about them.
“However their popularity was far greater a few years ago.”
The model accused the Sussexes of “hypocrisy” over Lilibet’s name.
She added: “They named their new baby after the head of the very establishment they tried to take down by calling them racist, neglectful parents and blaming them for Meghan’s suicidal thoughts when she was pregnant with Archie.
“However I don’t think the Queen had a choice but to accept it as I do believe the Royal family are walking on egg shells around them and everyone is genuinely worried about their mental health.
“Moreover I guess Meghan and Harry’s strategic take-over didn’t go as planned – actually it backfired.”
Prince Harry accused his family of showing “total neglect” for his mental health woes and claimed that Prince Charles made him “suffer” in a bombshell documentary, The Me You Can’t See.
Caprice said that despite the couple airing their personal grievances, including in a tell-all with Oprah Winfrey, it hasn’t dented the royal family’s popularity.
She told the Sun: “The Royal family are more popular and relevant than they have been in years. Literally the whole world is talking about them.
“As a business this has been phenomenal and they have held their heads up high with dignity, class and integrity.
“Ironically the Royal family will probably make more money and it is only advantageous for our tourism market as I think we will see the numbers go up, of course after Covid.
“The Royal family are more popular than they have been in years and the support worldwide is overwhelming.”
Outspoken Caprice also advised the pair to “stop playing the victim card. It is boring now and they need to take responsibility. Their continuous criticism is their own doing.
“Their actions don’t seem logical, constantly saying one thing and doing another… I think everyone wants to be supportive as their mental wellbeing is a concerning factor.
“Live your life privately with your healthy, beautiful children – this has been their objective all along. That is what they continuously tell us.
“I promise if they stop giving the press the most amazing salacious content they will leave them alone. It works, maybe they should try it for once!”
Caprice also told the Sun that Archie and Lilibet will have a very ‘liberal’ upbringing in Los Angeles, but, the schooling there is “not as academic” and they will “not be taught manners and etiquette.”
Royal biographer Angela Levin has slammed the baby’s name, alleging it exploited “a very private nickname”.
She told Good Morning Britain: “I don’t think it’s a good idea – I think it’s quite rude to Her Majesty Her Queen.
“It was a very private nickname from her husband who hasn’t been dead for very long.
“Prince Charles would never dream of calling his mother Lilibet.”
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.
Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor shares the nickname Prince Philip called his wife the Queen for more than 70 years — while the middle name is a tribute to Harry’s mum.
Royal author Phil Dampier said: “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.”
Mr Dampier – who wrote Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in their own words – added: “They might be trying to undo some of the damage.”
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, gave birth at 11.40am local time last Friday, June 4, at a hospital ten minutes’ drive from their £11million mansion in Montecito, California.
The baby weighed in at 7lbs 1oz, and mum and baby are “healthy and well”, said a spokesman.
