The Sussexes are now a family of four!
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a.k.a. the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have welcomed their baby girl – Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor – which means two-year-old Archie is now officially a big brother.
The couple announced the happy news in a statement – and shared the sweet sentiment behind their daughter’s name. Check it out:
“It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world.
Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home.
Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.
This is the second child for the couple, who also have a two-year-old son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The Duke and Duchess thank you for your warm wishes and prayers as they enjoy this special time as a family.”
How Lilibet became the Queen’s nickname has the cutest origin story, too. According to BBC, back when Queen Elizabeth was a toddler still learning to speak, she couldn’t pronounce her name properly – every time she’d say “Elizabeth,” it would come out “Lilibet.” Her granddad King George V would call her that affectionately and the name stuck.
As for honoring Prince Harry’s mom, their baby’s middle name isn’t the only way they’ve honored Princess Diana. Prince Harry and Meghan announced that they were expecting their second child on Valentine’s Day – the same day Princess Diana’s announcement that she was pregnant with Harry came out 37 years ago.
The couple revealed their baby’s gender during their sit-down with Oprah in March. “To have a boy then a girl — what more can you ask for?” Harry said.
So far, the Sussexes haven’t shared any photos of their new little bundle of joy – but they did share a “message of thanks” on the Archewell website.
“On June 4th, 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.”
Baby Lili is Queen Elizabeth’s 11th grandchild – she’s also eight in line to the throne. And the Royal Family is “delighted” to hear of her arrival earthside.
“The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed and are delighted with the news of the birth of a daughter for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday (June 6).
Congrats to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex! Welcome to the world, Baby Lili!
