Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle PrePurchased Domain Names for Their Daughter Lili

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were thinking ahead when it came to protecting the use of their newborn daughter's name. Read on for what they did online before announcing their baby's birth.

Watch: Did Harry & Meghan Clear Using the Name Lilibet With the Queen?

When it came to the name of their future daughter, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were clearly thinking ahead.

As the world well knows by now, on June 4, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed a baby girl they named Lilibet “Lili” Diana. Now, fans are learning the lengths the pair and their team went to preserve official use of their little one’s name online. 

“As is often customary with public figures,” a spokesperson for the couple said in a statement to E! News, “a significant number of domains of any potential names that were considered were purchased by their team to protect against the exploitation of the name once it was later chosen and publicly shared.”

Seemingly among them was the web domain name LILIBETDIANA.COM, which was registered on June 4 and is set to expire in a year. 

As was made clear in the baby’s birth announcement, their daughter’s name is special and meant to honor two significant royal women. 

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Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s Quotes on Parenthood

“Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet,” the announcement read. “Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales.”

Samir Hussein/WireImage

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Shortly after the baby’s arrival, a report emerged claiming Meghan and Harry did not ask Queen Elizabeth II about naming their newborn Lilibet. However, the new parents of two swiftly denied the claim.

According to a spokesperson for the couple, before announcing their daughter’s birth, Harry called his grandmother first of all his family members and shared his and Meghan’s wish to name their baby girl Lilibet in honor of the queen. They would have used a different name if Queen Elizabeth did not support the choice. 

Meghan Markle Reveals What Archie Thinks About Her New Children's Book

In a rare interview released on Father's Day 2021, and which marks her first since her bombshell sit-down with Oprah Winfrey in March, Meghan Markle talks about her new children's book.

Watch: Archie Harrison’s Cutest Moments With Meghan Markle & Prince Harry

Archie Harrison may be one of the stars of mom Meghan Markle‘s new children’s book, but he’s just as happy to add it to his growing library of stories to enjoy with his parents.

In an NPR interview released on Sunday, her husband Prince Harry‘s first Father’s Day as a dad of two, the 39-year-old Duchess of Sussex spoke about the couple’s 2-year-old son’s reaction to The Bench, an illustrated picture book that depicts the special relationship between father and son, as seen through a mother’s eyes. It was inspired by a 2019 poem Meghan wrote to Harry for Father’s Day 2019, a month after their son was born.

“Archie loves the book,” Meghan told NPR, “which is great because he has a voracious appetitive for books and constantly, when we read him a book, he goes, ‘Again, again, again!’ But now, the fact that he loves The Bench and we can say, ‘Mommy wrote this for you’ feels amazing.”

The Bench is illustrated by Christian Robinson and made up of series of vignettes showing different fathers and their sons sharing a bench while doing simple activities together like drinking apple juice or looking at the stars. The book also contains illustrations of Archie and Harry themselves as well as other father-son duos. One dad and his boy pose together in matching pink tutus.

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Family Album

On another page, an excited child greets his father returning from military deployment. The man lifts his son in the air while the boy’s mom watches, crying tears of joy, from inside the house.

There is also an apparent nod to Meghan and Harry’s daughter Lilibeth “Lili” Diana, who was born two days before the book was published. One illustration appears to show Meghan in a garden, carrying a baby in a sling over her shoulder.

SussexRoyal/Instagram

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The Bench also contains a number of other Easter eggs and personal tributes, including one for Harry’s late mother Princess Diana.

“If people start digging, I think you can find sweet little moments that we’ve tucked in there, from my favorite flower— even my husband’s mom’s favorite flower, forget-me-nots, we wanted to make sure those were included in there.” Meghan told NPR. “There’s a lot of special detail and love that went into this book.”

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Meghan’s audio interview with NPR marked the first time she has spoken with the press since her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March. The Duke of Sussex also joined his wife for part of the session and also granted the media mogul a solo interview for their Apple TV+ mental health series, The Me You Can’t See, which was released in May. Harry and Meghan have largely kept away from the public eye since leaving the monarchy and their previous home in the United Kingdom last year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, and have self-isolated at their California home with Archie and their pets.

“I often find, and especially in this past year, I think so many of us realized how much happens in the quiet,” Meghan told NPR, talking about her book. “It was definitely moments like that, watching them from out of the window and watching [my husband] just, you know, rock him to sleep or carry him or, you know … those lived experiences, from my observation, are the things that I infused in this poem [that is in the book].”

Meghan Markle's Dad Thomas Markle Comments on Baby Lili and Makes Accusation About Oprah

Meghan Markle's father Thomas Markle commented on the birth of his granddaughter and spoke negatively about Oprah Winfrey following her interviews with his estranged daughter and Prince Harry.

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Meghan Markle‘s father Thomas Markle has expressed hope of reconciling with his estranged daughter and her husband Prince Harry‘s and meeting both their kids, including their newborn daughter, Lilibet “Lili” Mountbatten-Windsor.

In a new interview, the 76-year-old reiterated an apology to the couple over their family rift while also accusing Oprah Winfrey of exploitation following her bombshell interview with the pair in March and a separate sit-down with Harry for an Apple TV+ series, both of which have fueled a massive PR crisis for the royal family.

During their joint sit-down, a pregnant Meghan and Harry voiced criticism of the monarchy, which they left more than a year ago. They also told Oprah they were expecting a baby sister for 2-year-old son Archie Harrison. Lili was born earlier this month in Southern California, less than five hours away from Thomas’ beachfront home in Mexico. In his interview with Australian TV show 60 Minutes, broadcast in full on Sunday, June 13, Thomas revealed how he found out about his granddaughter’s birth.

“No phone calls,” the 76-year-old retired Hollywood lighting director said. “I just heard it on the radio.”

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Family Album

Lili is named after both Queen Elizabeth II and Harry’s late mother Princess Diana. “Lily is a perfect name,” Thomas said, “and the other thing that makes me happy is now there’s a lot more Markle blood in the royal family. All I can say is I hope I get to eventually, sometime see these grandchildren of mine because I’m a pretty good grandpa.”

During her interview with Oprah, Meghan discussed her difficulties acclimating to life as a member of the monarchy, revealing that she at one point felt suicidal as a royal. She also shocked the interviewer—and millions of viewers—when the couple said an unnamed family member expressed “concerns” over the skin color of their future first child. When asked about it, Harry’s brother Prince William later said their family was not racist.

“The only person benefitting from this is Oprah Winfrey,” Markle said on 60 Minutes. When asked if he thinks the TV mogul is exploiting Meghan and Harry, he replied. “Yes, I do…that’s just my opinion. It seems to me she’s pushing it to get more and more out of it.”

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Thomas also said he thought Harry and Oprah’s Apple TV+ mental health docu-series The Me You Can’t See, in which the duke detailed his wife’s struggles and also criticized his royal upbringing in a solo interview, is a “setup.”

“I think she’s patting herself on the back and making a lot of money on this,” he said. “I think Harry’s being put into a position where he’s saying things he’ll never be able to take back…I’m not attacking Oprah but I really think Oprah’s taking advantage of Harry.”

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How Meghan Markle Forever Changed the Royal Family

Neither Meghan, Harry nor Oprah has responded to Thomas’ comments, which also come two months after he drove up to the TV personality’s Montecito, Calif. home, located not far from the Sussex’s, and left with a security guard a letter in which he requested she grant him an interview as well.

“I left a letter for Oprah with my phone number and email and I said, ‘Give me a chance to tell my story,” he said on 60 Minutes. “I said, it’s not fair to tell [their] story without hearing my story. I got no response.”

Thomas explained he would never show up at his daughter’s doorstep uninvited. “I’d never do that,” he said. “That makes me a stalker. I’m not a stalker.”

He also reiterated that he has not spoken to Meghan or Harry since two days before their 2018 royal wedding, after he drew controversy by posing for staged paparazzi photos that the tabloids released just before the nuptials. In an August 2018 Mail on Sunday interview, the duchess’s dad confessed to initially lying to Harry about posing for the pictures, saying he told him he was “being measured for a hoodie.”

Harpo Productions/ Photographer: Joe Pugliese

“If I am [to blame for the estrangement], tell me why and how I’ll fix it. I’ll try to fix it,” Thomas said on 60 Minutes. “As always, I do love you and I wish we could sit down and talk about it. I’m not an ogre.”

He later added, “July 18th, I’ll be 77 years old. Most of the Markle men don’t make it much past 80. So there’s a good chance I might never seen my grandchildren. I’m not looking for pity. I’m just saying that’s a reality.”

Meghan Markle Gives Birth: Find Out the Name of Her and Prince Harry's Baby Girl

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s son Archie Harrison has a new title: big brother. The couple welcomed a baby girl on June 4. Scroll on for all the sweet details.

Watch: Meghan Markle Gives Birth to Baby No. 2

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s newest bundle of joy has arrived! 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have welcomed a baby girl, a baby sister for their 2-year-old son Archie Harrison, a spokesperson for the couple announced on Sunday, June 6. Her name pays tribute to both Queen Elizabeth II and Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.

“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,” the statement said. “Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz.”

The statement continued, “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 honor 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.”

Meghan and Harry also said in a personal message posted on their Archewell charity website, “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.”

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Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s Quotes on Parenthood

The website also stated, “While the Duke and Duchess are on parental leave, Archewell will continue to do important work and publish stories on the site. We look forward to seeing you!”

In addition, the message read, “For those inquiring on sending gifts, we would ask that you support or learn more about these organizations working for women and girls: Girls Inc., Harvest Home, CAMFED or Myna Mahila Foundation.”

Meghan and Harry announced their pregnancy on Valentine’s Day with a photo of the couple that showed the 39-year-old actress and activist’s baby bump. “We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother,” a representative said at the time. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.”

During their explosive tell-all sit-down with Oprah Winfrey that CBS aired on March 7, the twosome revealed they’re expecting a baby girl, and that the child would arrive in the summertime.

Harry, 36, couldn’t contain his excitement as he gushed to Oprah about his little girl on the way. “To have any child, any one or any two would have been amazing,” he said, “But to have a boy and then a girl, you know, what more can you ask for? But now, you know, now we’ve got our family. We’ve got, you know, the four of us and our two dogs, and it’s great.”

As for whether more little ones might be in the cards, the couple, who are currently based in Santa Barbara, Calif., told the TV icon they would be done once they welcome the second baby, with Meghan adding, “Two is it.”

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A month earlier, Harry gave rare insight into their family life during an appearance on friend James Corden‘s The Late Late Show. When asked what a typical day is like, he told James, “Depending on how the day’s been, how busy it’s been: Do Archie’s tea, give him a bath, read him a book, put him down, go downstairs, Meg might cook a meal, might order a takeaway, go upstairs, sit in bed, turn the TV on, watch some Jeopardy!, maybe watch a little bit of Netflix.”

Harry also gushed about Archie’s “amazing personality” and revealed that the boy’s first word was crocodile. He added, “He’s already putting three, four words together. He’s already singing songs.”

Though this is certainly a joyous occasion worth celebrating, Meghan and Harry have endured their share of difficult moments since their magical wedding ceremony in May 2018. 

In a New York Times piece published in Nov. 2020, Meghan candidly wrote about the “unbearable grief” she experienced after suffering a miscarriage in July. “I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child,” she shared, “that I was losing my second.”

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Later, as she clutched her husband’s hand from her hospital bed, “I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles,” she wrote, “wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal.”

Finding ways to heal—ways to move forward—has been a constant in their relationship. Back in January 2020, the couple announced their decision to step back from royal duties, which became permanent in February 2021. During the Oprah interview, they shed more light on their reasons for leaving, including racism Meghan says she experienced and the devastating impact royal life had on her mental health.

On top of everything else, the past year has been a trying one for the entire world amid the coronavirus pandemic. But Meghan and Harry were able to find their silver lining, thanks to Archie. 

“In so many ways, we are fortunate to be able to have this time to watch him grow, and in the absence of COVID, we would be traveling and working more externally,” Meghan explained during a video interview in October 2020. “We’d miss a lot of those moments. So I think it’s been a lot of really good family time.”

Now that the pair have welcomed their girl, the Suits alum is finally able to cherish the daughter she’s dreamed about for years. Back in 2015, she revealed she had splurged on a Cartier French Tank watch when her USA legal drama landed a third season. “I had it engraved on the back, ‘To M.M. From M.M.'” she explained to Hello!, “and I plan to give it to my daughter one day.”