Holly Willoughby defends Harry and Meghan taking the Queen’s nickname Lilibet ‘without asking’ for new baby daughter

HOLLY Willoughby has defended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle taking the Queen’s nickname Lilibet for their new baby daughter after it was reported they hadn’t asked Her Majesty’s permission.

The Duke of Sussex has insisted his grandmother was “supportive” of the choice of name – after critics slammed the sentimental move suggesting it exploits “a very private nickname”.

Mum-of-three Holly, 40, said she would be “honoured” if her future grandkids used her name, and she wouldn’t expect them to consult her first.

Speaking to royal reporter Camilla Tominey on This Morning today, she said about Prince Harry, 37, and Meghan, 39: “It’s not normal to ask someone’s permission to use their name.

“It’s an honour isn’t it? You don’t have to necessarily check first.”

And Camilla replied: “I think it’s the nature of them taking the Queen’s personal nickname, forgive me I have never heard anyone being called Lilibet. Why not Elizabeth? So I think it’s the association of them taking her personal name.”

Meghan and Harry have previously spoken of their good relationship with Her Majesty.

However, Buckingham Palace officials were said to be unaware the baby had been born until the announcement came out on social media.

And the Palace previously 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.

Royal expert Angela Levin also claimed Harry “did mention to his grandmother” about naming their child after her, but she added: “I bet you he didn’t say I’m going to choose Lilibet”.

And Royal author Phil Dampier told The Celeb Report: “Lilibet is such a personal name to the Queen you would hope they gave the palace the heads-up.”

The Queen was given her nickname by her granddad King George V, who joked that she couldn’t pronounce her name Elizabeth as a child.

Prince Philip later adopted the name for his wife and was one of the few people to use it regularly.

Petronella Wyatt questioned whether the name was therefore “an insult” or “mean jibe” to the Queen, as it “seems presumptuous, and even distasteful” to use something “used by Prince Philip during the more passionate moments of married life”.