Queen Elizabeth Reportedly Gave Prince Harry Permission to Name His Daughter After Her

Update June 9, 2021: A source close to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle told Entertainment Tonight that the couple contacted the queen immediately after Lilibet's birth and asked her permission to use the name. The source notes that if the queen hadn't agreed to the name, the Sussexes would have chosen a different one.

"The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement," the source said. "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."

Previously: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry named their daughter after Queen Elizabeth — a decision the Duke of Sussex reportedly sought his grandmother's blessing for.

Vanity Fair reports that Prince Harry asked for the Queen's blessing to name his second child Lilibet ("Lili" for short) as a tribute to the monarch's childhood nickname.

"He loves and respects his grandmother," a friend of Prince Harry's told Vanity Fair. "For Harry these are two very important and meaningful names."

Prince Philip was believed to be the last person to call the Queen by her nickname. In her final farewell at his funeral, she placed a handwritten note on his coffin, signing it as "Lilibet."

According to People, Queen Elizabeth was one of the first to receive the news that Lilibet was born, before the couple made their public announcement on Sunday.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave their daughter the middle name Diana, after Harry's late mother Princess Diana.

As Entertainment Tonight points out, Prince Harry hinted at liking the name Lili as far back as two years ago, when he met a young girl named Lily at a royal event in January 2019.

"Prince Harry came over first and chatted to my two-year-old then spoke to my six-year-old Lily and then as he was walking off, he turned back he asked Lily if she spelt her name with a I or Y," Lily's mother, Rebecca Blundell, told the Daily Mail at the time. "I straight away thought that must be a name choice."

RELATED: The Royals Celebrate the Birth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Daughter Lilibet

According to a statement, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born on Friday (June 4) at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, Calif. "Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home," the announcement revealed, adding: "The Duke and Duchess thank you for your warm wishes and prayers as they enjoy this special time as a family."

In a personal message on their Archwell website, they wrote, "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."