Entertainment
Published January 15, 2024, 9:37 am ET
The late Queen Elizabeth was “furious” over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's claim that she gave her blessing for their daughter to be named Lilibet, a bombshell new book reveals.
Author and royal expert Robert Hardman's new biography, “Charles III: New King. New dish. “The Inside Story” reveals that an aide said the late monarch, who died in September 2022, was “as angry as I've ever seen her” after Harry and Meghan released their statement.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their baby daughter in 2021 and affectionately named her Lilibet, which was the late queen's nickname among her loved ones.
The touching nod to Harry's grandmother did not go unnoticed and apparently touched a nerve within the company, the new book says.
According to the Chron, an aide wrote Hardman, “privately recalled that in 2021 the Queen was 'the most angry I've ever seen her' after the Sussexes announced she had given them the blessing, to call her baby.” Daughter 'Lilibet', the Queen's childhood nickname.”
The late Queen Elizabeth was “furious” over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's claim that she gave her blessing for their daughter's name Lilibet, a new book reveals. Getty Images
In an excerpt shared with the broadcaster, Hardman continued: “The couple then warned of legal action against anyone who dared claim otherwise,” as the BBC had done.
“However, when the Sussexes tried to get the palace to support their version of events, they were rebuffed.”
“Once again, it was a case of 'memories may differ' for Her Majesty – the late Queen's reaction to the Oprah Winfrey interview – as far as Her Majesty was concerned,” he continued.
“These loud threats of legal action dissipated and the libel action against the BBC never materialized.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their baby daughter in 2021 and affectionately named her Lilibet, which was the late monarch's nickname among her loved ones. EPA
At the time, the BBC reported that Elizabeth had not been asked for her blessing to use the name.
The report contradicted Harry and Meghan's statement that Harry had asked his grandmother for her blessing and would not have used the name if she had not been “supportive” of him.
A spokesman for the Sussexes said at the time: “The Duke spoke to his family before the announcement – in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called.”
“During this conversation he shared her hope to name her daughter Lilibet in her honor. If she hadn’t supported them, they wouldn’t have used the name.”
The Sussexes are also parents to four-year-old son Archie, who turns five in May. Alexi Lubomirski / Duke and Duke
The Post has contacted Buckingham Palace and representatives of the Sussexes for comment.
Elsewhere, Hardman described palace staff as “interested” in Harry's protocol-breaking memoir “Spare” for “what had been left out”.
The bombshell book, which was released in January 2023, left no stone unturned when it addressed the whole family drama within the company.
Hardman's book also quoted King Charles' friend who said the monarch was “extremely saddened” by the ongoing rift between the two camps.
At the time, a spokesman for the Sussexes said that Harry had asked his grandmother for her blessing and would not have used the name if she had not been “supportive” of him. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
However, that now comes with a “feeling of desperation, that he's done what he could, and now that he's king, there's a lot more things to think about,” Hardman adds.
According to palace sources, Charles has “tried to listen” but is now “just getting on” with his life and giving Harry his “space.”
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