Archie ‘excited’ at arrival of Lilibet as royal watchers say Queen was ‘surprised’ by name

Harry and Meghan are both taking ‘several months off work’ to care for Lilibet with their eldest son Archie ‘excited’ and ‘very happy’ about the arrival of his little sister – but the Queen will have been ‘surprised’ the Sussexes chose to adopt her pet name, it was revealed today.

The Duke of Sussex is understood to have told his grandmother they may name their daughter after her – but didn’t ask the monarch’s express permission before she arrived on Friday, royal experts have claimed. 

In the first words since Lili’s birth was announced yesterday, a source close to the couple told the Evening Standard today: ‘Archie and his parents are excited to welcome the new addition to their family. He’s very happy to have a little sister.’ 

And Omid Scobie, a journalist favoured by Harry and Meghan, has revealed that the couple are now taking time off work together. He said: ‘We’re so used to seeing senior royals going back to work but Harry and Meghan are leading by example they offer up to 20 weeks parental leave at Archewell – it’ll be several months off work for the pair of them’.

Asked if the tribute to Her Majesty could heal the wounds caused by the couple’s damaging transatlantic truth bombs in recent weeks, Mr Scobie added in an interview with Good Morning America: ‘I don’t know about an olive branch but it shows how close they’ve always been with the Queen.’

Harry also has a job as ‘chief impact officer’ at San Francisco-based mental wellness app BetterUp, dubbed life coaching Tinder for millennials. Employees are entitled to eights weeks paid leave to ‘bond with your new child’ – MailOnline has asked the Duke’s boss Alexi Robichaux if his royal employee is taking it. 

The Duke is also a celebrity commissioner fighting what he calls an ‘avalanche of misinformation’ as part an American study for the Aspen Foundation, which is funded by left-leaning billionaires – but he is unlikely to qualify for paid leave from there.

Prince William took varying amounts of paternity leave with his three children, taking two to three weeks off duties for George and Charlotte but only two days when Louis was born. Kate took seven months for Louis, four months for Charlotte and only one month for George. 

It is understood the Queen was informed by Prince Harry that her great-grandchild would be named in her honour, ahead of their official announcement which was made on their official website yesterday – but it is not clear how much notice she was given or if she learned before Lili arrived on Friday.

Buckingham Palace appeared to be caught off guard by the timing of the Sussexes’ news with a spokesman for the palace congratulating the couple 90 minutes after the announcement broke.

‘Lilibet’ was coined by the 95-year-old monarch when she was too young to pronounce her own name, first used by her grandfather George V and also by her husband Prince Philip until he died earlier this year. 

Experts are split on how the Queen will view the tribute – some have claimed that Her Majesty will have been unhappy about the choice of name – others believe she will be touched.

Russell Myers, royal editor of the Daily Mirror, said today: ‘I am told Harry had said to the Queen he may name a daughter after her and so he didn’t really ask for permission as such but it was a nice surprise’. He added: ‘It can perhaps have these healing powers, it’s been a turbulent time, the truth bombs all the labelling of the royal family as racist – this seems to be a tremendous gesture’. 

Angela Levin told ITV’s Good Morning Britain that Her Majesty will be upset, adding: ‘I think she’s desperately unhappy because they were desperately rude about her. I don’t think it’s a good idea. I think it’s quite rude to her Majesty the Queen’.

The news of the birth of Harry and Meghan’s second child, a sister to Archie, came as: 

• Royal experts fear the Queen will be ‘desperately unhappy’ that Harry and Meghan have used her ‘very private’ and ‘special’ nickname Lilibet – used by Prince Philip and her grandfather George V. Piers Morgan said the choice of name was ‘ironic’ given the couple had spent weeks ‘trashing the Royal Family and the monarchy’;
• Website Lilibetdiana.com was secured up by mystery buyer on day Lili was born – two days before her arrival was made public;
• Thomas Markle today sent his ‘love and best wishes’ to his daughter and his new granddaughter Lilibet as he remains estranged from the Sussexes; 

Harry and Meghan’s daughter will be known as Lili Diana. Her late grandmother’s 60th birthday would have been next month.

Last night the delighted Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced: ‘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.’

Lili – who is eighth in line to the throne – was born in Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, a private facility where births cost up to £20,000. 

The Queen, senior royals and the Prime Minister led worldwide tributes, with Boris Johnson tweeting: ‘Many congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of their daughter.’

Meghan’s estranged father Thomas Markle, who has met neither Harry nor grandson Archie, said last night: ‘I am very pleased with the announcement of the safe and healthy delivery of my new granddaughter, and I wish her and her mother all my love and best wishes!’

Lili is the couple’s second child after Archie, who is two years and one month older than her.

The new baby is the Queen’s 11th great-grandchild, and the first to be born outside the UK.

The tribute to the Queen may be seen as an olive branch after Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, plunged the Windsors into crisis with their explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in March, when they accused an unnamed royal of making a racist remark about Archie’s skin tone and claimed the royals failed to help the duchess when she was suicidal.

Buckingham Palace officials were unaware the baby had been born until the announcement came out at 5pm last night on social media.

They finally released a statement hailing the ‘happy news’ at 6.34pm, emphasising the gulf that now exists between the Sussexes and the palace.

Buckingham Palace declined to discuss when the Queen was informed of the safe arrival of her newest great-grandchild or whether she was advised of the tribute to her in Lili’s name.

The name Lilibet was coined by the Queen and used by her younger sister Margaret and their parents.

George VI once said: ‘Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy.’

Lili arrived six days before what would have been the Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th birthday.

It is less than a month since Harry reportedly upset the Queen by making ‘very personal’ criticisms of her and Prince Charles’s parenting skills. 

He said in a podcast in the US that he and Prince William had been made to ‘suffer’ as children with their father, telling them: ‘Well, it was like that for me, so it’s going to be like that for you.’

The Buckingham Palace statement came more than an hour after Hollywood stars such as William Shatner had shared their best wishes on Twitter.

The palace said: ‘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.’

Lili is entitled to become a princess and Archie a prince when the Queen dies and Charles becomes king.

She is eighth in line to the throne, coming after Archie, and before Prince Andrew, who has dropped down a place to ninth. 

When Archie was born in 2019, Harry and Meghan went to extraordinary lengths to keep it a secret and even refused to confirm, either before or after the birth, where he was delivered.

The Daily Mail later revealed that the Duchess had given birth in the exclusive London Portland Hospital. It is not known when the Royal Family will get to see their newest member. They have not seen Archie since his parents left the UK in November 2019.

Lilibetdiana.com domain name is mysteriously purchased on the same day Harry and Meghan’s daughter was born and two days before the couple announced her arrival to the world

The website lilibetdiana.com was bought up in the US on the day Meghan gave birth to her second child – and two days before the news was made public, it was revealed today.

The owners of the domain has been kept secret because it was purchased via an intermediary in Scottsdale, Arizona, whose motto is: ‘Your identity is nobody’s business but ours’.

But royal experts insist they believe that the Sussexes are behind it because it was registered before the world knew the child, due this week, had been born or named Lilibet Diana by her parents. 

It is also common for celebrities to purchase websites in their child’s name before announcing a birth, to avoid having to buy it at an inflated price later. 

The domain lilibetdiana.co.uk has also been bought up, but this was done yesterday, amid rumours the couple plan to set up a foundation their daughter’s name, just like Archewell for their eldest child Archie.

Royal expert Angela Levin told Good Morning Britain today: ‘They’ve made a domain, Lilibet Diana. The domain is that nobody can use that email and they can use that for any sort of commercial work they want to. They’ve licensed it’.

Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born at 11.40am on Friday at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, weighing 7lb 11oz.

On the same day the website in her name was secured, according to a public registry of domain names.

The Sussexes announced her birth and name at 5pm yesterday, UK time, meaning only close friends, family and aides will have known the news when the URL was set up.

It was bought up via US company Domains By Proxy, which calls itself the Internet’s very first privacy service and charges people a fee to buy up websites for anyone who does not ‘want their personal information available for everyone to see’. 

As a result the owner of lilibetdiana.com is not contained on the ‘Whois’ record – a register that shows the owners of the world’s websites. MailOnline has asked the Sussexes to comment.

Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals in early 2020 in a quest for personal and financial freedom after struggling with royal life. They have signed multimillion-pound deals with Netflix and Spotify, and set up their Archewell Foundation.

In February last year, a month after they emigrated, the Queen ordered they must drop their ‘Sussex Royal’ label after deciding to step down as working royals.

Her Majesty and senior officials are said to have agreed it is no longer tenable for the couple to keep the word ‘royal’ in their ‘branding’.

Harry and Meghan spent tens of thousands of pounds on a Sussex Royal website to complement their hugely popular Instagram feed.

They also sought to register Sussex Royal as a global trademark for a range of items and activities, including clothing, stationery, books and teaching materials. In addition, they took steps to set up a new charitable organisation: Sussex Royal, The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

But they were later forced to accept defeat and changed to Archewell. 

Harry and Meghan first began using the Sussex Royal branding in 2019, after they split their household from that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – known as Kensington Royal. 

Dozens of trademark applications were made for everything from bandanas to notebooks – although sources have always stressed that these were preventative measures to protect the trademark from others, and never intended for commercial use.

It placed the Queen in an invidious position, given her long-held conviction of refusing to allow working members of the family to profit from their positions. 

If Harry keeps true to his pledge, their daughter will be their last child. He told activist and chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall in 2019 that he would only have two children for the sake of the planet.

Home for the new family-of-four is Harry and Meghan’s £11 million forever mansion in Montecito, California. 

Meghan chose 133-year-old ‘not for profit’ Santa Barbara hospital where births cost up to £20,000 to welcome her daughter Lilibet Diana

The California hospital where Meghan Markle gave birth to a baby girl called Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor on Friday is a large not-for-profit foundation set up in 1888 by a group of 50 women that oversees 2,400 births a year. 

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital is proud of its all-female founders, a heritage that is likely to strike a chord with the Duchess of Sussex due to her interest in female empowerment.  

Located in downtown Santa Barbara, it is one of the closest hospitals to their £11million mansion in nearby Montecito, which is roughly ten minutes away by car. 

A natural birth will cost £10,000 while a Caesarean section is £20,000. Lili is one of 2,400 babies to be delivered at the hospital in the last year.

A local source suggests pop star Katy Perry, neighbour to Meghan and Harry in Montecito, also had her baby Daisy there last August.

The prince recently revealed he is friends with Miss Perry’s film star husband Orlando Bloom.

Harry said they keep in touch by text so it is possible that he and Meghan chose the hospital on their personal recommendation.

Built in the Spanish Colonial style, it boasts a feeling more like a home than a hospital. Or perhaps even a hotel.

Every room has wifi, a video monitor and computer keyboard. There is a menu for food orders and room service, as well as a pantry so women in labour and loved ones can help themselves to snacks at any time they wish.

As well as a bed with lots of pillows to help keep the mother-to-be comfortable, each birthing room also has a recliner, a rocking chair and a sofa.

These would help the anxious father-to-be or other birthing partner so Harry would have been able to make himself comfortable too.

There are also outside terraces to walk off labour pains and hot tubs for hydrotherapy.

Meghan and Harry’s son Archie, two, was born at the private Portland Hospital, central London.

The couple have always refused to confirm this but it is listed on his birth certificate.

The Cottage Hospital oversees sees 20,000 annual admissions and is run by parent company Cottage Health. 

It consists of a 519-bed acute care teaching hospital and trauma center, the largest of its kind between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. 

According to Cottage Health’s website, it opened on December 8, 1891, when Santa Barbara’s population was less than 5,000. 

The wider group now includes branches in Goleta and Santa Ynez and a rehabilitation centre, provides  a comprehensive range of services. 

They have been ranked among the most efficiently managed in California, according to Cottage Health’s website. 

The Santa Barbara hospital has a staff of around 600 medics and has been undergoing a $700million rebuilding plan to make it earthquake proof, 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s baby girl was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40am. She was born weighing 7lb 11oz, and is said to be settling in at home.

Baby Sussex has finally arrived and weighs 7lbs 11oz – so how does Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor’s birth compare to big brother Archie and cousins George, Charlotte and Louis?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have welcomed their second child, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten Windsor, weighing 7lbs 11oz.

That means Lilibet, who was born on Friday, weighing eight oz more than her big brother Archie, who weighed 7lb 3oz when he was born. 

Harry and Meghan announced their daughter’s birth at 5pm today through their Archewell website, rather than through Buckingham Palace, like they did for their son, Archie.

The statement from the couple – who have stepped back from royal duties since the birth of their firstborn – also used American spellings such as ‘honor’ when revealing the news. 

Both Archie and Lilibet are significantly smaller than the Cambridges’ three children, who weighed 8lb 6oz (Prince George), 8lb 2oz (Princess Charlotte) and 8lb 7oz (Prince Louis). Louis was the heaviest royal baby to be born in 100 years.   

The Duchess of Cambridge spent 10 hours in labour with Prince George, in contrast to just two hours with Princess Charlotte.

So, how does Lilibet’s birth compare to big brother Archie’s and his royal cousins? 

Archie, 7lb 3oz

Date of birth: May 6 2019  

Time of birth: 05:26am 

Time in labour: Unknown

The Duchess of Sussex gave birth to her first child Archie at the private Portland Hospital in Westminster, on May 6 2019. 

Archie’s birth certificate confirmed the place of birth as the Portland Hospital and dismissed speculation that Meghan, who married Harry a year ago on Sunday, had a home birth in the sanctuary of Frogmore Cottage – the Sussexes’ home on the Windsor Estate.

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the seventh in line to the throne and an eighth great-grandchild for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, arrived at 5.26am on May 6, weighing 7lb 3oz.

The birth was shrouded in mystery however, with the duke and duchess keen to  keep the birth location private and details of their medical staff a secret.     

Archie was christened in a private chapel at Windsor Castle on 6th July.

In keeping with royal tradition, he wore the hand-made replica of the royal christening robe, made by Angela Kelly, dressmaker to the Queen.

The Lily Font and water from the River Jordan were also used during the baptism.

However unlike other royal births, just 25 guests were present at the baptism, and the couple only released photographs celebrating with their immediate family. 

They have never revealed the identities of his godparents, but sources revealed last year Tiggy Pettifer, Harry and William’s former nanny, and Mark Dyer, Harry’s minder, were among them. 

Both confidantes were relatively unknown figures among a star-studded pool of candidates touted to fill the role, which included Meghan’s celebrity friends Serena Williams and Misha Nonoo.   

Prince George, 8lb 6oz

Date of birth: July 22, 2013

Time of birth: 4.24pm

Time in labour: More than ten hours

Kate remained in hospital for just over 24 hours when she gave birth to her first child, George, on July 22, 2013.

She gave birth 10-and-a-half hours after being admitted to the Lindo Wing, at 4.24pm.

At the time, George was named the heaviest future king to be born in recent history, at 8lb 6oz.

Two days after Prince George was born, and one day after Kate left hospital, an announcement was made confirming his name as George Alexander Louis.

Prince George was christened on Wednesday, 23rd October 2013 at The Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose the following people to be godparents to Prince George: Oliver Baker, David Jardine-Paterson, Earl Grosvenor (Hugh), Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, The Hon Mrs Michael Samuel, Michael Tindall and William van Cutsem. 

Princess Charlotte, 8lb 3oz

Date of birth: May 2, 2015

Time of birth: 8.34am

Time in labour: Just over two hours

When Princess Charlotte was born on May 2, 2015, Kate was in and out of the hospital in just 10 hours.

Kate was admitted at 6am and Charlotte was born two hours and 34 minutes later, weighing 8lb 3oz.

At 11am on May 2, Kensington Palace announced the birth via Twitter and a website statement.

Princess Charlotte was named two days after she was born, on May 4, with a formal announcement revealing her name as Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

As the second child of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge she is fourth in line to the throne.

Charlotte was christened at St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham, her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth’s country estate in Norfolk.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge asked the following people to be godparents to Princess Charlotte: Sophie Carter, James Meade, Adam Middleton, The Hon. Laura Fellowes and Thomas van Straubenzee.

Prince Louis, 8lb 7oz

Date of birth: 23 April 2018

Time of birth: 11:01am 

Time in labour: Just over five hours 

The duchess was taken to the private Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, before 6am on Monday in the early stages of labour, with the Duke of Cambridge at her side.

At 8.24am Kensington Palace confirmed she had been admitted to hospital in the early stages of labour.

At 11.01am, she gave birth to a baby son and at 1.02pm Kensington Palace announced the birth of the prince and revealed the baby weighed 8lb 7oz.

Soon after the birth the duchess headed home to the sanctuary of Kensington Palace, just as she did with Charlotte in 2015 – but not before introducing the new royal baby to world on the steps of the Lindo Wing. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge asked the following people to be godparents to Prince Louis: Nicholas van Cutsem, and Lucy Middleton, along with Guy Pelly, Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, Lady Laura Meade, and Mrs Robert Carter. 

How the line of royal succession looks now: Harry and Meghan’s baby girl is 8th in line to the throne, ahead of Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie – despite being born a US citizen

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s second child is eighth in line to the throne despite being born a US citizen after the couple moved to LA to quit royal life.

Lilibet, who was born on Friday weighing 8oz and is a sibling for Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, two, has entered the line of royal succession behind her older brother and is set to nudge senior family members further from the throne.

The first seven places in the line of succession will remain unchanged – Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry, and Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.

However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new addition will bump her great-uncle, Prince Andrew, down to 9th place. When he was born in 1960 he was second-in-line to the throne behind his older brother, Prince Charles. 

Meanwhile his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie move down to 10th and 11th place, respectively.

Although Princess Eugenie will soon move one more place down the line when her niece or nephew arrives later this year.

Eugenie’s son August, who was born in February, is in 12th place following the birth of Baby Sussex but will move down to 13th when his cousin arrives.

Lilibet will not be entitled to be an HRH nor be a prince or a princess like Kate and Williams’ children, Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three.

This is due to rules set out more than 100 years ago by George V, who limited titles within the family during the First World War.

She is allowed to be a Lady, but, in keeping with Harry and Meghan’s wishes, will be a plain Miss (first name) Mountbatten-Windsor instead.

As the first-born son of a duke, Archie could have become Earl of Dumbarton – one of Harry’s subsidiary titles – or been Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.

The Duke and Duchess broke with royal convention by making a personal decision not to use a title, thought to be inspired by Harry’s wish to have been a normal child, rather than a prince, as he grew up.

Harry and Meghan’s baby is the fifth grandchild for Prince Charles, and the Queen and the late Duke of Edinburgh’s eleventh-great-grandchild.

The monarch’s great-grandchildren so far are: Savannah and Isla Phillips; George, Charlotte and Louis; Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall; Archie, and Princess Eugenie’s baby boy, August Brooksbank.

‘We’re delighted at the happy news’: William, Kate and family ‘congratulate’ Harry, Meghan and Archie at Lilibet’s birth – after Queen and Charles also sent best wishes

Prince William and Kate have joined other senior royals in congratulating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the ‘happy news’ of their daughter’s birth.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they were ‘delighted’ by the arrival of baby Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor who was born on Friday at 11.40am at a Californian hospital.

The couple passed on their best wishes and ‘congratulations’ to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as well as their son Archie.

They well-wishes were joined by Harry’s father Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall who shared congratulations on social media.

The Prince of Wales also noted Lilibet’s middle name, Diana, given in honour of his late wife and Harry’s mother Princess Diana. 

‘Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie on the arrival of baby Lilibet Diana. Wishing them all well at this special time,’ they said.

Earlier, The Queen sent her best wishes in a joint statement with the Cambridges and the Prince of Wales who had made a touching tribute to her by naming their daughter ‘Lilibet’, short for Elizabeth.

The official Royal Family Twitter account tweeted: ‘Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of Lilibet Diana!

‘The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted with the news. Lilibet is Her Majesty’s 11th great-grandchild.’

An earlier shortened statement had been given out by Buckingham Palace, confirming that the senior royals had been ‘informed’ of the birth. 

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ‘The Queen, The Prince of Wales & The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge have been informed & are delighted with the news of the birth of a daughter for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.’

A source has told Us Weekly that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also ‘sent Lilibet a gift’ after hearing of her birth.

The royals have not met the Duchess of Sussex or baby Archie in person since they left in March 2020 initially for Canada before settling in the US. 

They were however reunited with Prince Harry in April after he flew back from California to attend the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip. 

News of the royal birth took two days to be announced, with Meghan confirmed to be back at home settling in the newborn today after her press secretary broke the news earlier.

Unlike with their son Archie who was born in 2019 the couple Harry have not yet released a photo of their daughter.

Thomas Markle AND Prince Charles are ‘unlikely to meet their new granddaughter for some time’, claims royal expert following the birth of Meghan and Harry’s daughter Lilibet

Thomas Markle and Prince Charles are unlikely to meet their new grandchild anytime soon due to ongoing rifts with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, royal experts have claimed.

Prince Harry and Meghan who are based in Montecito, California, welcomed their second child Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, on Friday 4 June.

Their daughter weighed 7 lbs 11 oz, and the couple announced her birth at 5pm today through their Archewell website, rather than through Buckingham Palace, like they did for their son, Archie.

The statement from the couple – who have quit royal duties since the birth of their firstborn – also used American spellings such as ‘honor’ when revealing the news.

It’s thought that Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland has been among the first relatives to greet the newborn, as she was close by her daughter’s side after the arrival of Archie in 2019.

However, royal biographer Robert Jobson, has explained why it’s unlikely we’ll see the other grandparents sharing in the joy of a face-to-face meeting.

He told FEMAIL: ‘As it stands it seems unlikely that either grandfather will meet their new granddaughter for some time. Thomas is not the only one facing problems with Harry and Meghan.’ 

But he added: ‘Any baby’s birth is a blessing. I am delighted for them both. Let’s hope little Lilibet will help heal some of the pressing issues that have been at the heart of the Royal Family in recent months.’ 

In the early days of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s relationship, Thomas Markle was rarely seen in public and seemed to be making a conscience effort to maintain his privacy.

However, the 76-year-old was said to have collaborated with a British paparazzi photographer to stage a series of snaps just days before Harry and Meghan’s wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018.

Among the photos was Thomas being measured for a suit to wear to the monumental event, browsing for a book of British landmarks and working out to get in shape.

He was supposed to walk Meghan down the aisle, but pulled out of the ceremony because of health problems.

In an interview, he claimed to have hung up on Prince Harry, who he has still not met, in a heated exchange following the staged snaps for cash.

Thomas’s relationship with his daughter seemed to have soured following the row as he gave interviews following the wedding, claiming he had been ‘cut off’ as a punishment.

The retired Hollywood lighting director who lives in Mexico, went on to give an interview, claiming he didn’t receive an invitation to Harry and Meghan’s wedding, meanwhile his ex-wife Doria Ragland was hand delivered a scroll bearing the Queen’s formal announcement by two representatives at her Los Angeles home.

Thomas said: ‘No one came to my door in Mexico. I would have liked the engagement announcement too.’

He has appeared in a series of explosive interviews since Meghan and Harry tied the knot, which is said to have caused a further rift. 

Meghan lived with her father between the ages of 11 and 18, with Thomas Markle claiming he paid for her school fees and college tuition 

Despite alleging to have once been close, Thomas has never met his grandson Archie and claimed he only learned his daughter was pregnant when he heard it on the radio. 

Nigel Cawthorne who is author of Call Me Diana: The Princess of Wales on Herself, believes Thomas won’t meet his grandchildren until the distant future. 

‘In due course he very likely will, but at the moment he won’t be at the top of the couple’s list for obvious reasons,’ Nigel said.

‘Harry is likely to channel his mother’s inclusive philosophy. While it may be satisfactory to exclude a grandfather from seeing a grandchild for certain reasons, there is also a grace in being forgiving. 

‘Diana possessed such grace even if at times it took a conscious effort to do the right thing.’  

The comment comes as Harry’s relationship with his father Prince Charles and grandmother the Queen is also under scrutiny, as he alleges that his father failed him as a child.

In a recent US mental health podcast, he claimed to have moved to California with his family to ‘break the cycle’ of ‘pain’ he suffered as a member of the Royal Family.  

He likened his experience to the upbringing Charles received from the Queen and Prince Philip, saying the Prince of Wales had ‘treated me the way he was treated’, calling it ‘genetic pain’. 

He also admitted that he wanted to quit The Firm in his ‘early 20s’ due to ‘what it did to my mum’ and said Meghan encouraged him to have therapy and had herself now concluded: ‘You don’t need to be a princess’.

Prince Harry had just months earlier accused a member of the Royal Family of racism towards his son Archie, two, as one of many truth bombs during a sit down with Oprah Winfrey.   

Royal sources have claimed the Queen is ‘deeply upset’ by what she considers a series of ‘very personal’ criticisms of the family. 

The monarch saw Prince Harry for the first time in more than a year at the funeral of her husband Prince Philip and hasn’t seen her two-year-old great-grandson, since November 2019. 

Royal author Phil Dampier recently told The Sun, the 95-year-old may never see Archie again, as he hasn’t seen any of his British relatives since he was six-months-old.

Phil said: ‘I think there is a very real danger the Queen will never see Archie again or never see her new great granddaughter which is tragic.

‘I can’t see how when they [Meghan and Harry] go on about compassion and family problems but don’t let their grandfather or great-grandmother see Archie.’

Will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s daughter be British or American? Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor is likely to possess dual citizenship like big brother Archie

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s new baby girl is likely to possess dual citizenship – just like big brother Archie.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their new addition on Friday, June 4 at 11.40am, with Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor weighing 7lbs 11oz.

Following the couple stepping down as senior royals, they announced the news in their own statement, shared on the Archwell Foundation website and not through the official channels of the Royal family, in a departure from the announcement of her brother Archie in 2018, in a post written in American English.  

Given Meghan, 39, is an American, having been born in California, her children are automatically entitled to citizenship in the US.

The same goes for Harry, who was born in the UK and is thereby a British citizen. Under British law, citizenship can be passed down one generation, so Harry’s children are eligible to inherit that status.

Unlike his sister, Harry and Meghan’s son Archie, two, was born in the UK – at the Portland Hospital in London – but both children possess dual British and American citizenship. 

When the couple married in 2018, it was announced that Meghan intended to become a British citizen, however it can take several years.

It’s believed that the Sussexes chose to step down as senior royals and move across the pond before the process was complete; it’s unclear whether they are continuing to see it through now that they’ve settled in Montecito.

It appears that Meghan remains an American citizen; she voted in the presidential election last year – making her the first member of the British Royal Family to do so.

When Harry moved to the US last year, sources told the Times that he didn’t intend on applying for a green card or dual citizenship ‘in the foreseeable future’.

If Harry applied for US citizenship, it would require him to renounce his titles and expose him to US taxation on his earnings worldwide, according to the Immigration and Nationalization Act.

It’s not known whether he has a diplomatic or other special visa; it’s highly unlikely he has a tourist visa because that would forbid him from working. 

His wealth – previously estimated to be around £30million – may qualify him for visas available to entrepreneurs willing to invest in America. Another option is the O-1 visa for ‘individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement’.

In order to be granted a O-1 visa, Harry must be sponsored by an organisation that plans to work with him and can identify the areas where he excels – most likely his philanthropic endeavours. 

It’s usually approved for three years, and renewed every year after that.

The Sussex children aren’t the first royals with dual citizenship. Peter Phillips’ estranged wife Autumn is Canadian, and retained her citizenship when they married in 2008.

Their daughters Savannah and Isla have Canadian and UK citizenship. 

Baby Sussex’s VERY starry play date posse! How Harry and Meghan’s daughter will grow up with Orlando Bloom, Serena Williams and Misha Nonoo’s children – instead of the close circle of cousins she would have had in the UK

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle count actors, fashion designers and royalty among their inner circle, so newborn daughter Lilibet will have no shortage of glittering celebrity offspring by her side as she grows up. 

But the young royal’s star-studded California play date posse will be decidedly different to the one she would have had if Harry and Meghan had decided to raise their children in the UK. 

A-list power couple Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, who welcomed daughter Daisy Dove in August 2020, live just down the road from the Sussexes in Montecito, while Meghan’s BFF Misha Nonoo, who is expecting a daughter of her own this summer, has reportedly been looking for a house in the neighbourhood. 

Further away are Serena Williams and her daughter Olympia, who spend most of their time in Florida, and Toronto-based Jessica Mulroney and her three children, although distance doesn’t matter too much when you’re mingling with the mega-wealthy. 

Some of the British crew have also moved Stateside, with Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip – Prince Harry’s onetime wingman – now calling Washington D.C. home with his wife and young son.

Back in the UK it would have been a largely family affair, with Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall’s sons (born in February and May, respectively) and Princess Beatrice’s new baby (due this autumn) born just a few months apart from Lilibet.

Violet von Westenholz, the socialite and royal family friend who is said to have introduced Harry and Meghan, has a two-year-old daughter, while Archie’s godfather Charlie van Straubenzee welcomed a daughter with wife Daisy last year.

On the showbiz side of the friendship group there is George and Amal Clooney, who live just a stone’s throw from Windsor with their three-year-old twins Ella and Alexander.  

Here, FEMAIL takes a closer look at the young movers and shakers you need to know. 

FRIENDS IN THE US 

ALEXIS OLYMPIA OHANIAN JR. 

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s daughter  

Among the oldest in Harry and Meghan’s baby group is Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian’s three-year-old daughter Alexis, known as Olympia. 

The family are understood to spend most of their time in Florida but will no doubt be popping on a plane to visit Lilibet as soon as possible.  

Meghan and Serena have been close friends since 2014 after having their first ‘real hangout’ at the DirecTV Beach Bowl, although they briefly crossed paths in 2010 at the SuperBowl.

The pair have been determined not to let distance come in the way of their friendship, with Serena and Alexis travelling to the UK for Harry and Meghan’s wedding and Meghan jetting to New York just to cheer on Serena in the U.S. Open in September 2019.

Serena was among the first friends to meet Archie following his birth in May 2019 and the tennis champion will no doubt be planning a trip to California to meet the new arrival.  

She recently described her royal BFF as the ‘strongest person she knows’ and described her as the ‘epitome of confidence’, ‘the epitome of selflessness’. 

LEO AND BABY HESS

Misha Nonoo and Mikey Hess’s son and future daughter  

Meghan Markle’s BFF Misha Nonoo revealed in February she is pregnant with a baby girl – weeks after the Duchess announced she was expecting.

The British-Bahraini fashion designer, who lives in New York and is known for her eponymous clothing line, is credited with helping to introduce Harry and Meghan. 

Her first husband, Alexander Gilkes, went to school with Prince William and Prince Harry. 

Now married to oil heir Mikey Hess, Misha welcomed her son Leo in March 2020 – less than a year after Harry and Meghan welcomed Archie.   

During her first pregnancy, Misha told People, that the Duchess of Sussex had been sharing her advice about becoming a first-time mother.

The designer revealed: ‘As with all friendships, you share lots of tips and everything.’

While Mikey and Misha currently call New York home, reports suggest the couple have been looking at property in Montecito – maybe they could soon be on Harry and Meghan’s doorstep.  

DAISY DOVE BLOOM 

Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry’s daughter 

The Duke of Sussex, 36, told Dax Shepard’s ‘Armchair Expert’ show that he has struck up a bond with his new neighbours Orlando Bloom, 44, and singer Katy Perry, 36, who live ‘just down the road’ from Harry and Meghan’s £11million mansion in Montecito, California. 

Speaking in a 90-minute interview on the podcast, Prince Harry described how the Lord of the Rings star tipped him off about a photographer and that the pair ‘keep in touch’ over text.

But the pair’s close proximity and the fact they are now both Brits abroad is far from the only parallel between the duo, who have both seemingly been moving in the same circle for years – having common connections with US designer Misha Nonoo, popstar Ellie Goulding and also a reported interest in spirituality.

Handily, Orlando and Katy are also the proud parents of a little girl, Daisy Dove, who was born in August 2020. 

It means there will be less than a year between Lilibet and Daisy as they grow up down the road from each other.  

ARTHUR INSKIP  

Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip and wife Lara’s son 

Prince Harry’s childhood friend Tom ‘Skippy’ Inskip and his wife Lara welcomed their first child together, a boy named Arthur, in May last year.   

The two men used to be inseparable, with Skippy known as Harry’s wingman thanks to their wild holidays together.

Harry was an usher at Skippy’s wedding to literary agent Lara in Jamaica in 2017 but the pair grew apart.

Although Skippy and his wife Lara were invited to the wedding ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in 2018, they were notably absent from the lavish evening reception at Frogmore House.

Instead, they had to watch as the Royal couple’s new friends such as Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney made their way to the event. 

However it is understood the pair have put their differences aside and patched things up.

Both men are now parents and fatherhood has given them some much-needed perspective, the Mail On Sunday reported in May last year. The pair had plans to meet up after the lockdown ended in the United States, where they both live.  

Skippy, who lives in Washington DC and works at US tech giant Afiniti, was reportedly making plans to take his company’s private jet to Los Angeles with his son Albert to meet Harry and Archie. 

It is not known whether the planned meeting went ahead but it certainly bodes well for warmer relations between the two families going forward. 

RENNIE FOSTER 

Katharine McPhee and David Foster’s son 

While Prince Charles might not be close by, Prince Harry will have a ‘father figure’ on hand in the form of music producer David Foster, who welcomed a son with wife Katharine McPhee in February. 

The couple live in a stunning Los Angeles apartment but there are rumours they are looking to snap up a place to be closer to Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet.

Music producer Foster, 71, who has been married five times, has become a close friend to Harry and Meghan and the foursome have been spotted dining out together.    

Katharine previously said her musician husband ‘has a really, really beautiful relationship with Harry,’ and that they are ‘like father and son’.

The actress, who first found fame on American Idol, was at school with Meghan, albeit several years below her.  

There are reports that they spent last Christmas together at the Sussex home in Montecito.   

Foster was instrumental in the couple’s stay at the £10.7 million Mille Fleurs house in Vancouver, Canada, from November 2019 to March 2020. The house was secured for them by Foster, whose friend owned the house. Harry and Meghan reportedly paid a rent that was ‘well below market value’.

Meanwhile, Foster has been friends with Oprah Winfrey for years. Oprah was one of the highest profile stars to travel to Canada to lend wattage to his Miracle Gala in 2017 which celebrated 30 years of charity work by the mogul.  

… AND THE ONES IN THE UK 

PRINCE GEORGE, PRINCESS CHARLOTTE AND PRINCE LOUIS 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children 

Although it seems difficult to imagine now, there was a point in time when Prince William and Prince Harry no doubt would have imagined their children growing up the best of friends. 

If the Sussexes had chosen to live in the UK and continue on as working royals then Archie and Lilibet would have had a special bond with their cousins, Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, who they would have seen at family events and at royal engagements as they got older. 

One only has to look at the bond the brothers share with their own cousins, namely Zara, Eugenie and Beatrice, to see the type of relationship and experiences their children might have shared.   

Prince Harry was also a hands-on uncle to the Cambridge children, particularly to Prince George.  

Although there are a few years between George and his newborn cousin, the future king is well practised at entertaining his younger siblings and would have felt at ease with a little one around. 

Archie too would have benefited, particularly given there is just a year between him and Louis. 

Harry and William are expected to reunite in July to unveil a statue of their mother in Kensignton Palace Gardens to mark what would have been Princess Diana’s 60th birthday. 

It will be the first time they have been together in person since Prince Philip’s funeral and Prince Harry’s most recent round of bombshell Oprah interviews.    

AUGUST BROOKSBANK 

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s son 

Eugenie and Harry enjoy a particularly close relationship and the princess knew Meghan (the pair have mutual friends including Misha Nonoo) before the then actress met the prince. 

Indeed Eugenie and her then boyfriend, Jack Brooksbank, were at a party in Soho House in Toronto in 2016 when Harry and the Suits star were first seen together. 

Eugenie was instrumental in keeping her cousin’s relationship secret.

Despite the distance between them, Eugenie and Jack are understood to still be on good terms with Harry and Meghan. 

The young parents live at Frogmore Cottage, the house on the Windsor estate renovated by the Sussexes before they emigrated to North America.   

With so much in common, it is easy to imagine Lilibet and August, who was born in February would have grown up the best of friends.

Like the Cambridges, the children would have seen each other at family events as well as official royal engagements. 

Princess Eugenie’s older sister, Princess Beatrice, is also expecting her first child this year with husband Edoardo – adding another to the Sussexes’ British playdate options.  

LUCAS TINDALL 

Zara and Mike Tindall’s son 

Like August Brooksbank, Zara and Mike’s son Lucas is the perfect age to be best friends with the Sussexes little girl.  

Prince Harry enjoyed a close relationship with Zara and Mike while he was living in the UK, with ex-rugby player Mike previously speaking about how he was part of a WhatsApp group with Harry.  

Harry is goddaughter to the Tindall’s younger daughter Lena, two. Oldest child Mia is seven.  

The Tindalls live at Gatcombe Park, Princess Anne’s Gloucestershire estate, meaning they would have seen the Sussexes less than the family members in London or Windsor.  

But the families were excellent in making an effort to see each other when Harry lived in the UK so no doubt it would have been the same had the Sussexes chosen to raise their children there.  

ALEXANDER AND JAMES JORDAN  

Lindsay Roth and Gavin Jordan’s sons 

Meghan’s best friend from college, Lindsay Roth, is understood to be raising her sons, Alexander, two, and James, one, in London, where she lives with her English husband Gavin. 

Meghan and Lindsay have been friends since they met in a Toni Morrison literature class during their freshman year at Northwestern, from which they graduated in 2003.

They remained close as Meghan went on to pursue acting, eventually earning her high-profile role on Suits.

Lindsay also acted for a bit, appearing as an extra in Mona Lisa Smile alongside Julia Roberts and Kirsten Dunst, and Raise Your Voice, with Hilary Duff.

She has since gone on to work as a producer for Larry King Now, The Real Girl’s Kitchen, and Queen Boss.

All the while, the two were in each other’s lives. Though Meghan has deleted her personal Instagram account, Lindsay still has several photos of the star up and tagged on her page.

TV producer Roth married Englishman Gavin Jordan in 2016, with Meghan serving as maid of honor. 

CLOVER VAN STRAUBENZEE 

Daughter of Charlie and Daisy van Straubenzee

Prince Harry’s childhood friend and Archie’s rumoured godfather Charlie van Straubenzee welcomed a daughter Clover with wife Daisy in February last year.  

The families have been friends for decades, with their uncle, William van Straubenzee, a close friend of Princess Diana.

Harry and Charlie have been friends since their time at Ludgrove Prep School in Berkshire. Charlie’s older brother Thomas is Princess Charlotte’s godfather.  

Charlie and Thomas were both Prince Harry’s ushers at his Windsor Castle wedding to Meghan in May 2018, and Charlie gave a speech alongside Prince William at the evening reception at Frogmore House. 

Meanwhile the Duke of Sussex acted as Charlie’s best man at his wedding to Daisy, a society wedding and party videographer who runs a company with her sister Kitty, on August 4 later that year in Frensham, Surrey – also Meghan’s 37th birthday.

Harry made annual summer visits to the Straubenzee family home in Cornwall while he was growing up. 

Charlie’s older brother, Henry, died in a car crash in 2002 at the age of 18. Prince William and Prince Harry are joint royal patrons of the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund. 

Tale of two baby announcements: How Meghan and Harry revealed arrival of second child Lilibet Diana on their Archewell website… compared to official Royal statement after Archie’s birth in 2019

By Isabella Nikolic for MailOnline

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have today welcomed the newest addition to their family – a daughter named Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

But the way Harry and Meghan made the announcement was worlds away from the formal statement they made in 2019 after their son Archie, two, was born. 

Since stepping down from their roles within The Firm last January, the couple has been given the freedom to announce their daughter’s birth however they want. 

Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11.40am at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara weighing 7lb 11oz, and is said to be settling in at home.   

In a message of thanks from Meghan and Harry on their Archewell website, the duke and duchess 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 couple was allowed to keep the birth under wraps until they were ready, whereas when Archie was born an announcement was made when Meghan went into labour. 

Not only this, but the couple were able to release a statement in their own voice thanking the public for its support – an announcement which was notably absent after the birth of Archie. 

The announcement of Archie’s birth on May 6, 2019, came directly from the Palace and was strikingly sterile in its delivery, even down to the military-style time given. 

It read: ‘Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526hrs this morning. The baby weighs 7lbs 3oz. The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth.’  

‘The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Earl Spencer have been informed and are delighted with the news. The Duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, who is overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild, is with Their Royal Highnesses at Frogmore Cottage.’ 

‘Her Royal Highness and the baby are both doing well.’

However, the Sussexes’s press secretary released a statement this afternoon which seemed to have much more character and warmth. 

It read: ‘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 11.40am in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. She weighed 7lbs 11oz. 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 honour 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.’ 

When Archie was two days old, the Sussexes then presented their newborn to the world in an official photoshoot at Windsor Castle. 

But they are now under no obligation to take part in an official photoshoot with their daughter, or to present her to the world in such a formal manner. 

There was some expectation that the couple may use the birth of their daughter as an opportunity to associate their personal celebration with their charity work.  

And the Sussexes have done so by asking that anyone who wishes to send a present to support organisations working for women and girls. 

A message on the Archewell website reads: ‘For those inquiring on sending gifts, we would ask that you support or learn more about these organisations working for women and girls: Girls Inc., Harvest Home, CAMFED or Myna Mahila Foundation.’ 

The couple made similar nods to charity when making previous celebratory announcements such as Archie’s birthday and their wedding anniversary.  

Last month on their third wedding anniversary the Archewell Foundation announced its plans to build its next Community Relief Center in India. 

And for Archie’s second birthday this year the couple encouraged the public to donate to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. 

Despite Harry and Meghan quitting as senior working royals, the baby still has a place in the line of succession.

She is eighth in line to the throne, coming after Archie, who is seventh in line, and before the Duke of York, who has dropped to ninth place.

The new baby is also a first cousin of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and a fifth grandchild for Charles, but will grow up across the Atlantic, thousands of miles away from the royal family – at a time of heartbreak and division within the Windsors.

Harry and Meghan revealed they were expecting a girl in March during their explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey. 

Her arrival follows the heartache the couple suffered when the 39-year-old duchess suffered a miscarriage in the summer of 2020. 

In November, former Suits actress Meghan wrote, in a deeply personal article for the New York Times: ‘I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.’

The Sussexes announced on Valentine’s Day they were expecting again, releasing a black and white photo of themselves sitting under a tree in Los Angeles.

‘I’m more than a Lilibet excited to meet you!’ Ellen DeGeneres leads Harry and Meghan’s A-List friends in welcoming their daughter into the world

By William Cole For Mailonline 

Celebrities, politicians and fans have sent thousands of well-wishes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they announced the birth of their second child.

Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, named after Princess Diana and The Queen, was born on Friday, June 4 at 11.40am at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California.

She is sister to two-year-old Archie and is the Queen’s 11th great-grandchild – the first of the monarch and Philip’s great-grandchildren to be born since the death of the Duke of Edinburgh in April.

After the news was announced by Meghan’s press secretary earlier today the pair were congratulated by friends as well as politicians and members of the royal family.

In California, TV show host Ellen DeGeneres led the good wishes, tweeting: ‘Congratulations Meghan, Harry and Archie.

‘Welcome to the world Lilibet! I am more than a Lilibet excited to meet you.’

While Meghan won’t be having too many visitors as Lilibet settles in at their Montecito mansion, Ellen may be among looking to meet the newborn after she and wife Portia de Rossi moved into a house nearby.

Former Star Trek actor William Shatner also sent a message to the couple, tweeting: ‘Congratulations to Prince Harry & Meghan on the birth of their daughter.’ 

Photographer Misan Harriman, who took the pictures Meghan and Harry used to announce the Duchess second pregnancy, congratulated his ‘brave friend’.

He tweeted: ‘Lilibet has arrived! Congratulations to my brave friend and her lovely family! #allthatmatters #babyjoy.’

Sharon Carpenter, a TV personality who hosts ‘The Royal report’ with People Magazine and is a supportive figure of Meghan tweeted: ‘Congratulations to Harry and Meghan on the birth of their second child, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. I love that their baby girl is named in honor of both the Queen and Princess Diana.’

In the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson led a raft of politicians sending well-wishes to the couple, saying: ‘Many congratulations to The Duke & Duchess of Sussex on the birth of their daughter.’

He was followed shortly after by Lib Dem leader Ed Davey who wrote: ‘Many congratulations to Meghan, Harry and Archie on the wonderful news and welcome Lili!’

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, also congratulated the couple, calling the announcement ‘wonderful news’.

Charities close to Harry’s heart were among the first to send their public congratulations.

The Diana Award established in memory of his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Wellchild charity, of which Harry is patron wished the couple well.

The Diana Award, set up to continue the legacy of Harry’s beloved mother, tweeted: ‘Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of their daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

‘We extend our warmest wishes to the duke, the duchess and little Archie.’

The organisation’s chief executive Tessy Ojo said everyone involved in the charity is ‘delighted to welcome another grand child of Diana, Princess of Wales’.

A tweet from the Wellchild charity read: ‘Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

‘We wish our patron the duke, and the duchess every happiness as they start this new adventure.’

Robert Voss, the Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire tweeted his warm wishes saying: ‘Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of their daughter Lilibet Diana. Also many congratulations to Her Majesty and The Prince of Wales on the birth of a great-granddaughter and granddaughter.’