IT was the name the little Princess Elizabeth gave herself because she could not pronounce her grown up name Elizabeth.
It subsequently became the name that everyone within the close family knew her by. When Princess Margaret was born she too called her sister Lilibet but it wasn’t for general usage.
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Prince Philip wrote to his mother in law the Queen of his love for her daughter Lilibet. He never thought about calling her anything else.
But it was a personal name. It was just for close family and friends and not for anyone outside the tight knit circle of royalty to use.
Unlike her family who even addressed their Christmas cards and presents to Lilibet her children never called her by her nickname.
She was mummy or the Queen to them and her grandchildren certainly never called her anything other than her official title.
How charming that Harry and Meghan have decided to call their daughter Lilibet or Lily as a compliment to the Queen.
But how strange as they profess to want to remove themselves from royal life that they have chosen to use such an intimate royal nickname for their daughter.
It was affectionately used by only her parents and her husband. But I am certain she will be pleased and perhaps a little confused that Prince Harry has decided to use this name.
The Queen has a healthy disregard for nicknames. When her son Prince Andrew’s affair with Koo Stark was all over the press the only thing she said is, “why can’t they all her Katherine?”.
Of course Harry wants to remember his mother so the name Diana had to be in there somewhere. But where is Meghan’s parentage in all of this?
- Ingrid Seward is the author of Prince Philip Revealed: A Man of His Century and editor in chief of Majesty Magazine.
