Prince Harry and Meghan welcome daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor

Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, the eighth in line to the throne, given the childhood name of the Queen.

Prince Harry and Meghan have announced the birth of their daughter Lilibet Diana, who was born in California. Picture: AFP

Prince Harry and Meghan have welcomed their baby daughter into the world, naming her Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, after both the Queen and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Lilibet, to be known as “Lili”, is the childhood name of the Queen and used by her closest family members and long standing friends.

The Sussexes have also, not surprisingly, acknowledged Harry’s mother, Diana, who died in a Paris car accident in 1997.

The baby girl, the second child to Harry and Meghan, was born in Santa Barbara last Friday at 11.40am, weighing 7lb 11oz, and is said to be now settling in at home.

Meghan and Harry with their first child, Archie. Picture: AFP

She is the sister to two-year-old Archie and the Queen’s 11th great grandchild.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman 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.”

While the Sussexes have honoured little Lili’s great grandmother, it is highly uncertain when Her Majesty will meet her namesake.

The Queen, 95, has only seen Archie as a young baby before the Sussexes quit royal life and re-established themselves in California in early 2020.

In strained relations ever since, the Queen has been reportedly deeply troubled by Harry and Meghan’s challenges. In a pointed statement the Queen replied to Harry and Meghan’s allegations of racism against Royal family members, bigotry and discrimination in the Oprah Winfrey interview, saying “while some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately’’.

Thirty-six-year-old Harry and Meghan, 39, announced the birth of their daughter – who is the eighth in line to the throne and the first in modern times to be born overseas – on their website, Archewell on Sunday.

“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 Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth are seen laughing with Princess Diana and Prince Charles in 1982. Picture: File

A further statement said: “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.”

Like Archie, Lilibet will not have a title.

Meghan claimed that Archie was discriminated against and not given a title, suggesting it was because of his mixed-race, but it is because he is not entitled to one until Charles becomes King. The new baby will similarly be known as Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.