Buckingham Palace aides are reportedly celebrating after recent revelations that Queen Elizabeth was furious with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over their use of her childhood nickname. Sources claim the Palace is quietly happy that this “wrong is being righted.”
As reported by GB news, The controversy stems from Harry and Meghan’s decision to name their daughter Lilibet, which was the Queen’s intimate family nickname. When the name was announced in 2021, a BBC royal source stated that Harry and Meghan had not asked the Queen for permission to use the name. Harry and Meghan’s representatives pushed back, calling the claim “defamatory.”
However, in January 2024, additional reports emerged revealing the Queen was in fact not consulted and was very upset when she learned of Lilibet’s name via social media. This seeming confirmation of the initial BBC report has prompted relief among Palace aides. As one insider noted, “You’ll find the silence [from the Palace] speaks volumes, but everyone is quietly celebrating this particular wrong being righted.”
The Lilibet controversy caps off years of tensions between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family. Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, where they have frequently criticized the monarchy and aired family grievances publicly. Their relationship with Harry’s father King Charles III and brother Prince William remains strained.
Using Lilibet’s name without permission was reportedly the “final straw” for the late Queen, who was normally measured in her response to Harry and Meghan’s actions. With her passing in September 2022, however, Palace aides seem to feel more license to express their true feelings on the matter. Their celebratory mood may indicate a definitive rift between the Sussexes and the new monarch.
Harry and Meghan have not directly responded to the latest allegations about Lilibet’s naming. A spokesperson recently stated the couple remains “focused on supporting the dozens of charities, foundations and causes close to their hearts.” The Sussexes continue work through their Archewell Foundation on issues like mental health, disinformation, and women’s empowerment.
Meanwhile, King Charles has carried on with official duties after a successful transition to the throne last year. He continues prioritizing climate change activism alongside Queen Consort Camilla. The Palace has not further commented on tensions with Harry and Meghan as Charles focuses on cementing his legacy as monarch.
What lasting impacts this controversy will have remain unclear. Lilibet has inadvertently become a flashpoint for larger debates about the Sussexes’ status in the Royal Family and their right to self-determination post-Megxit. As Harry prepares to release a memoir this year, the divisions seem likely to deepen even further.
