A recent podcast comment by Meghan Markle has reignited criticism toward the Duke and Duchess of Sussex over their daughter’s name, Lilibet — a name deeply tied to Queen Elizabeth II.
On May 27, during the season finale of her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan spoke with Spanx founder Sara Blakely about the challenges of motherhood and building a brand under scrutiny.
The conversation turned personal when Meghan offered advice on naming babies, which many found ironic given the controversy surrounding her own daughter’s name.
“You’re like, ‘What do you think?’” Meghan said, describing the temptation to ask others for opinions. She then advised, “If you have an idea about what you are going to name that baby, you keep it so close to your heart, until that baby is born and it’s named. Don’t ask anyone’s opinion.”
The comment quickly drew backlash online due to the royal couple’s decision in 2021 to name their daughter Lilibet Diana, a name that honors Queen Elizabeth’s private childhood nickname. Critics were quick to point out the perceived contradiction between Meghan’s advice and her own naming choices.
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“Funny they publicly stated they got permission to use the name? Turns out they did steal. Another lie exposed,” one person wrote.
Others piled on with similar sentiments, accusing the couple of appropriating a deeply personal moniker without proper consent. One post read, “Steal your husband’s grandmother’s private nickname without her consent. That’s what you do.”
Comments ranged from sarcastic — “Her No. 1 Rule for Baby Names… like the one that she stole from the Queen?” — to openly critical: “A woman who named her son ‘Archie’ should not be giving baby name advice.”
Despite the backlash, some supported Meghan’s point. One fan commented, “I love her baby names,” while another agreed with her advice: “There will always be one person who doesn’t like the name(s) you’ve chosen… just keep it to yourself until the baby is born!”
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Expressions of goodwill also surfaced. “Aw! The kids are growing up so fast… May God bless them always,” one person shared. Another wrote, “Exactly what we’re gonna do when we get pregnant… everyone had an issue with the names we wanted.”
When Harry and Meghan announced the birth of their daughter on June 4, 2021, they said the name “Lilibet” was a tribute to both Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. A statement from their foundation, Archewell, explained that “Lili” derived from the Queen’s childhood nickname, given when she struggled to pronounce “Elizabeth.”
Though Harry reportedly spoke to the Queen before the announcement and received her blessing, the story was later disputed. The BBC cited a Palace source claiming the Queen had not been consulted, sparking debate.
The Sussexes refuted that claim through their spokesperson and legal counsel, asserting that the Queen had been informed in advance and did not object.
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“The duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement—in fact, his grandmother was the first family member he called,” their statement read.
Still, the public remained skeptical. The Queen’s nickname held significant emotional value, famously used in her private correspondence and on a funeral wreath for Lord Mountbatten. After her passing in 2022, the name’s emotional resonance only deepened.
Since leaving royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have faced relentless scrutiny, particularly regarding decisions that connect them to the monarchy. Meghan’s podcast advice has once again placed her under the microscope — and considering the past controversy, it’s no surprise that her comments stirred renewed backlash.