When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced the birth of their second child back in June 2021, the world didn't just get a new royal name to memorize. We got a massive shift in how the British monarchy handles its youngest members. Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor—or "Lili" as her parents call her—represents a lot of firsts. She’s the first high-ranking royal born in California. She’s a dual citizen. And honestly, she’s become a bit of a focal point for the ongoing, often messy dialogue about what it means to be royal in the 21st century.
People are constantly Googling Harry and Meghan's daughter because she’s rarely seen. Unlike her cousins in the UK—George, Charlotte, and Louis—Lili doesn't do the balcony appearances or the Christmas morning walks to church. Her life is vastly different. It’s private. It’s coastal. It’s very "Santa Barbara."
The Name That Sparked a Thousand Headlines
Let's talk about the name. Lilibet.
It wasn't just a random choice. "Lilibet" was the deeply personal childhood nickname of Queen Elizabeth II. It started because the young Princess Elizabeth couldn't quite pronounce her own name, and her grandfather, King George V, found it endearing. Later, it was the name Prince Philip used for her in their private letters.
When the news broke that Harry and Meghan’s daughter would carry this name, the reaction was… polarized. Some saw it as a beautiful olive branch to the Queen during a time of family tension. Others, especially within the UK tabloid ecosystem, argued it was an overstep. There was even a brief, heated debate over whether the Queen had given her blessing. A spokesperson for the Sussexes eventually clarified that Harry spoke with his grandmother before the announcement and that she was supportive. If he hadn't had her blessing, they likely wouldn't have used it.
Then there's the middle name: Diana. That one was expected but no less powerful. By naming her Lilibet Diana, the Sussexes tied their daughter to the two most influential women in Harry’s life. It’s a heavy mantle for a toddler, but in the world of royal naming conventions, it’s a standard way of honoring lineage while asserting a specific family identity.
Life in Montecito vs. Life at Kensington
Basically, Lili's life is about as far from the traditional royal upbringing as you can get while still keeping a title.
She lives in a sprawling estate in Montecito, California. Instead of the manicured lawns of Windsor or the structured playdates of London, she’s growing up with chickens (remember "Archie’s Chick Inn" from the Oprah interview?) and a massive garden. She’s being raised alongside her older brother, Archie.
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There's a specific kind of freedom there.
Think about it. In London, every move a royal child makes is documented by the "royal rota"—a pool of journalists who cover the family. In California, the Sussexes have fought tooth and nail for their privacy. They’ve filed lawsuits against paparazzi using drones to snap photos of their children. Consequently, we’ve only seen a handful of images of Lili: her first birthday portrait at Frogmore Cottage, a few glimpses in the Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries, and the occasional grainy holiday card.
This privacy isn't just a preference; it's a strategy. Harry has been vocal about the "trauma" of his own childhood in the spotlight. He wants something different for his daughter.
The Princess Title Drama
For the first couple years of her life, she was just "Miss Lilibet."
That changed in March 2023. When she was christened at a small, private ceremony in California, the couple’s spokesperson referred to her as Princess Lilibet Diana. This was a big deal.
Under the 1917 Letters Patent issued by King George V, the grandchildren of a monarch are entitled to be Prince or Princess. When Lili was born, her great-grandmother was on the throne, so she didn't automatically get the title. But once Charles became King, she and Archie became the grandchildren of the Sovereign.
There was a lot of speculation about whether Harry and Meghan would actually use the titles. Some critics felt that since they stepped back from "senior royal" duties, they shouldn't use them. But the couple made it clear: it is their daughter's "birthright." They want her to have the option to use it later in life if she chooses.
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What the Public Often Gets Wrong About Harry and Meghan's Daughter
Social media is a weird place when it comes to the Sussexes. You'll find two extremes.
On one side, people treat these kids like characters in a soap opera. On the other, there are conspiracy theories—truly wild ones—about whether the children even exist or if they were born via surrogacy. To be clear, there is zero evidence for these claims. They’re largely fueled by the lack of public appearances, but that’s a choice made by parents who don’t want their kids chased by cameras.
Another misconception is that she’s "not really royal" because she lives in America.
Legally and genealogically, that’s just not true. She is currently 7th in the line of succession to the British throne. That’s higher than the Duke of York (Prince Andrew) or his daughters. While it’s highly unlikely she’ll ever wear a crown, she remains a significant part of the royal family tree.
A Dual Identity: British Royalty Meets American Girl
Lili is in a unique position. She is arguably the most famous American-British toddler on the planet.
- Citizenship: She is a US citizen by birth and a British citizen by descent.
- Education: She’ll likely attend school in California, potentially alongside the children of Hollywood elites and tech moguls.
- Culture: She’s growing up with an American mother and a British father, meaning her accent will be a fascinating case study in a few years.
Her parents are clearly trying to balance these worlds. In their Netflix series, we saw her celebrating her first birthday with a cake from a local baker, but it happened at Frogmore Cottage in the UK during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. They are keeping her connected to her British roots, even if that connection is mostly through private visits rather than public ceremonies.
The Relationship with the King and the Wales Family
The big question everyone asks: Does she actually know her grandfather?
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The reality is complicated. Prince Harry has admitted in his memoir, Spare, and subsequent interviews that the relationship with King Charles is strained. However, Charles did get to meet Lili during the Jubilee trip in 2022. Reports from the palace at the time described it as a "very emotional" meeting.
As for her cousins—George, Charlotte, and Louis—the distance is the biggest hurdle. Living 5,000 miles away makes it hard to form those "thick as thieves" bonds that Harry and William once shared. But Meghan has spoken about wanting her children to have a relationship with their extended family. Whether that happens depends largely on the adults in the room.
Understanding the Significance of Lili's Future
The story of Harry and Meghan's daughter is still being written, but her existence has already changed the "rules" of royal life. She proves that you can hold a title, remain in the line of succession, and live a life that looks more like a California dream than a London tradition.
If you’re following this story, here are the real takeaways you should keep in mind:
- Title Status: She is officially Princess Lilibet of Sussex. This is updated on the official Royal Family website.
- Privacy is Paramount: Don't expect "paparazzi" shots. The Sussexes use strict legal protections to ensure their children are not photographed without consent.
- A Symbol of Modernity: Her very existence as a biracial, dual-citizen Princess living in the US is a landmark in the history of the British Monarchy. It’s never happened before. Not like this.
Moving forward, the focus will likely shift to how she handles her dual identity as she enters school. For now, she remains a private figure in a very public family. To stay accurately informed, rely on official statements from the Archewell Foundation or the Royal Family's formal registry rather than tabloid speculation. The nuance of her position—caught between two continents and two very different ways of life—is what makes her story so compelling to so many.
She isn't just a royal; she’s a test case for whether the monarchy can exist outside the palace walls. It’s a fascinating, unfolding experiment in fame, family, and tradition.
To keep your facts straight, always check the official line of succession on the Royal Family website if you’re unsure about where she stands. It’s the only definitive source that bypasses the media noise. Focus on the legal milestones, like her title change or official visits, to separate the reality of her life from the endless rumors.