Harry and Meghan accused of copyrighting child’s name – here’s how they responded
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their second child in 2021, they chose the name Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. It was a choice that instantly sparked discussion. Lilibet was not just any nickname. It was the intimate childhood name used only by Queen Elizabeth II’s closest family members. It dated back to her toddler years when she struggled to pronounce Elizabeth, and the affectionate version simply stayed with her for life.
The moment Harry and Meghan revealed the name, critics questioned whether the Queen had truly approved it. The couple insisted she had, but conflicting reports quickly appeared. In his book Charles III: New King, New Court, The Inside Story, royal author Robert Hardman claimed the monarch was deeply upset by the announcement. According to him, an aide described her as angrier than they had ever seen, reportedly telling those around her that her name was the one thing she felt she still owned.
Some sources suggested she felt unable to refuse the request. Others said she had not even been asked. The BBC at the time reported that no permission had been sought from the Queen. Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson pushed back firmly, stating that the Queen was the first relative Harry called and that they never would have used the name without her support.
Claims about trademarking the name
The debate resurfaced when royal commentator Angela Levin spoke on GB News, criticising what she described as the couple’s “appalling” behaviour. She claimed that Meghan had taken steps to secure the name legally before the baby was even born, implying it could be used for future branding or purchases linked to the Sussexes.
When asked whether she meant the couple had copyrighted the name, Levin answered that they had indeed registered it. She suggested this would have upset the Queen because Lilibet was an extremely private nickname, used only within the family circle by those who loved her most. Levin argued that casual observers might assume the Queen endorsed the Sussexes’ ventures simply because of the name’s association.
Harry and Meghan have repeatedly rejected the idea that they acted without the Queen’s approval. Still, the controversy surrounding their daughter’s name remains one of the more personal and emotional disputes in the ongoing rift between the Sussexes and the royal family.
