PRINCE Harry has insisted he and Meghan told the Queen they were naming their daughter Lilibet in a sensational war of words with the Palace.
The duke hit back at a Palace source who claimed he and the Duchess of Sussex “never asked” Her Majesty about using her childhood nickname, saying she was “supportive” of the choice.
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The Palace source told the BBC this was not the case – and the Queen was “never asked” about its use.
But Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s official spokesman said: “The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement, in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called.
“During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honor.
“Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.”
The unprecedented briefing war saw pals of Harry and Meghan weigh in, as questions about Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the royals desperately await answers.
Some commentators have suggested Lili’s name was meant to be an “olive branch” as the Sussexes try to heal the wounds they have created in repeated attacks on the Royals.
But if they have taken such a personal pet name – used only by the Queen’s father King George VI, her beloved late husband Prince Philip and a few other close friends – without bothering to ask permission it may be seen as an insult rather than a compliment.
Angela Levin said this week that Meghan and Harry’s use of the “private” name was “rude” and even “demeaning” towards the Queen.
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.”
She added: “It was a special name, I think it’s quite demeaning, I really believe that.”
Buckingham Palace officials were said to be unaware the baby had been born until the announcement came out at 5pm 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.
Ms Levin claimed Harry “did mention to his grandmother” about naming their child after her, but said “I bet you he didn’t say I’m going to choose Lilibet”.
And Royal author Phil Dampier told The Sun: “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”.
It follows a series of jaw-dropping interviews given by Meghan and Harry about the Royal Family in recent months, landing the Firm in hot crisis talks with their bombshell Oprah Winfrey chat.
But although Harry spoke of his strained relationship with dad Charles, he said he had a “really good” relationship with the Queen – and spoke regularly with Her Majesty over video call.
Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, whose middle name was given in memory of her grandmother Princess Diana, arrived at 11.40am on Friday in California.
A statement published on their Archewell website said: “On June 4, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili.
“She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe.
“Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.”
The Sun Online has approached Buckingham Palace and representatives for Meghan and Harry for comment.
