BABY NEWS: 10 things we (already) know about Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry’s new daughter
“Both mother and child are healthy and well."
Duchess Meghan has officially welcomed her second child, a baby daughter, with husband Prince Harry.
The Duke and Duchess announced their new baby girl was born on Friday.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan confirmed on Sunday, saying: “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.
Here’s 10 things we already know about Prince Harry and Meghan’s new baby girl
1. Her name is a beautiful tribute to two key women in Harry’s life
According to the couple: “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.”
2. Mum and bub are healthy and doing well
Harry and Meghan’s daughter was born at 11.40am (4.40am on Saturday AEST) at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital California. Lilibet was welcomed into the world weighing 7 lbs 11 oz (3.5 kilograms).
“Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home,” shared the couple’s spokesperson.
Prince Harry and Duchess Megan chose this black and white image of themseleves cradling Archie while pregnant with Lili as the birth announcement photo.
3. Archie is now a big brother
Two-year-old Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is now doubt excited to be a big brother.
In February when the couple first announced they were expecting a second child, a spokesperson shared:
“We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.”
4. Duchess Megan and Prince Harry feel “blessed”
The couple also took to their own website Archewell, to release a more personal statement.
“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,” they wrote.
“Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.”
“On June 4, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili.”
5. The Royal Family is “delighted”
“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,” the statement from Buckingham Palace read.
6. Grandparents Charles and Camilla have sent on their congratulations
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall tweeted:
“Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie on the arrival of baby Lilibet Diana. Wishing them all well at this special time.”
7. Uncle William and Aunty Kate have sent on their well wishes to their niece, Lili
Prince William and Kate Middleton also congratulated Harry and Meghan on the birth of their daughter.
“We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie,” the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said.
8. Lilibet is Her Majesty’s 11th great grandchild
Lilibet is the Queen’s 11th great grandchild and she is eighth in line to the British throne.
Even though Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in March 2020, the line of succession remains in play.
Harry currently sits in sixth place, with Archie following him at number seven and Lilibet at number eight.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s daughter, Lili is eighth is line to the British throne.
9. Lilibet will not receive a royal title
As was the case for Archie, Lili will not receive a royal title.
The rules about who receive a royal title come from a letter patent issued by King George V in November 1917.
According to the 1917 letter, Archie and Lilibet will eventually receive a title – but not yet.
The children of Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, would have to wait until Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, became king, at which point they would be the grandchildren of the monarch and hence entitled to be princes or princesses.
During the Oprah interview, The Duchess of Sussex spoke about the protocol. She referred in the interview to a “George V or George VI convention” that would mean her son Archie would become a prince “when Harry’s dad becomes king”.
But she went on to say that she had been told when she was pregnant that “they want to change the convention for Archie” so he would not become a prince.
10. And their family is now complete
During the Oprah Winfrey special which aired in March, the couple revealed they were expecting a girl and the arrival of their daughter would complete their family.
“Grateful, having any child, any one or a two would have been amazing, but to have a boy and then a girl… now we’ve got our family and we’ve got four of us,” the Prince gushed.
