Queen's anger over naming baby Lilibet: Aide says monarch was 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' after Harry and Meghan claim they had her blessing to use childhood nickname

Queen Elizabeth was outraged by Harry and Meghan's claim that she had given her blessing to their daughter named Lilibet, a new book has revealed.

A member of her staff says the monarch was 'as angry as I've ever seen her' after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex publicly stated they would not have used her private family nickname if she had not been 'supportive'.

The couple even instructed their aggressive law firm, Schillings, to write to news outlets and publishers – particularly the BBC – claiming she had not been asked for permission, were false and defamatory and should not be repeated.

But when the Sussexes tried to 'co-opt' Buckingham Palace to 'support' their version of events, they were 'rebuffed'.

The illuminating revelation comes in the latest installment of a fascinating new biography: 'Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story', from The Mail writer Robert Hardman, and is currently serialized exclusively in the Daily Mail.

In 2021, Harry and Meghan's decision to welcome their new daughter Lilibet, who was born in California and has only been to Britain briefly once, raised eyebrows.

It has already revealed the existence of a remarkable memo detailing the late queen's last moments, now in the Royal Archives, in which her private secretary recorded that she had 'slipped away' peacefully – but not before packing her last box filled out paperwork and left. Inside were two sealed letters, one addressed to her son and heir.

In Monday's episode, Hardman explores the fallout following the Sussexes' decision to bitterly step down from royal duties and the ongoing issues surrounding Prince Andrew, including how:

• Prince William felt his brother's attacks on his wife Kate – especially the suggestion that male members of the royal family simply marry women who “fit the mold” – were “the lowest of the low”.
• The prince was also 'mortified' by Harry's 'casual betrayal' of so many brotherly secrets in his memoir, Spare.
• Neither King Charles nor William has read Spare, or ever will. But the staff informed them of 'the most important points'.
• Charles was deeply hurt by Harry's actions, but has learned to compartmentalize domestic trauma.
• He now feels 'annoyance' about the situation. “He did what he could and now that he is king there are many more things to think about,” says a friend.
• However, he insists the door is always open for his youngest son. “You would always want your child back,” says a senior official.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes insisted they would not have used the name if the Queen had not been 'supportive'

In conversations with members of the royal family, friends and palace staff past and present, Hardman's insight into Harry's relationships with family members is fascinating.

In 2021, his and Meghan's decision to welcome their new daughter Lilibet, who was born in California and has only been to Britain briefly once, raised eyebrows.

Lilibet was the late Queen's affectionate childhood nickname, which is said to have arisen because Princess Elizabeth could never pronounce her own name correctly as a child.

It was only used by her parents, King George VI and the Queen Mother, her sister, Princess Margaret, her husband, Prince Philip, and a handful of very close friends.

At the time, the BBC reported that a palace source had said the Queen had not been asked by the Duke and Duchess if they could use it.

Other sources told the media, including the Mail, that although Her Majesty received calls from her grandson and his wife, she felt she was not in a position to say no.

But a spokesperson for the Sussexes insisted they would not have used the name if the Queen had not been 'supportive'.

They said at the time: 'The Duke spoke to his family ahead of the announcement – in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called.

Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in a photo released in June 2022

During that conversation, he shared their hopes to name their daughter Lilibet in her honor. If she hadn't supported her, they wouldn't have used the name.”

Strongly worded legal letters were then sent.

Hardman writes that some of the late monarch's household were particularly “interested” that, amid a wealth of private family information and criticism of staff members, Harry “mysteriously omitted the entire incident from his memoir, Spare.” '.

He says: 'Someone privately recalled that Elizabeth II was 'as angry as I had ever seen her' in 2021, after the Sussexes announced she had given them the blessing to name their baby daughter 'Lilibet', the nickname of the queen from her youth.

'The couple subsequently fired off warnings of legal action against anyone who dared to suggest otherwise, as the BBC had done. However, when the Sussexes tried to co-opt the palace to support their version of events, they were rebuffed.

“Once again it was a case of 'memories may vary' – the late Queen's response to the Oprah Winfrey interview – as far as Her Majesty was concerned.

“Those vociferous threats of legal action have disappeared and the defamation actions against the BBC never materialized.”

On Harry's relationship with his father, Hardman says: 'Of course the king is extremely sad about Harry and Meghan, but there is a sense of annoyance, that he has done what he could and now he is king, there are many more things to talk about thinking. about,” says a friend.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry pictured together at the Chelsea Flower Show on May 18, 2015

'He tried to listen. Now he just says, 'I don't want to know what the problem is. I'm just going to get on with my life.' For now, however, Harry has decided he wants to do things differently and is determined to give him the space to do so.

As for Prince William, the staff says he hopes people will understand and respect that he has kept his counsel about his brother's repeated attacks, especially regarding his wife.

Harry's suggestion, as many have interpreted it, that Windsor men, including his older brother, are “tempted” to marry someone “who would fit the bill – as opposed to someone you might be destined to marry” to be', had ended up. bad.

'On top of all the other breaches of trust, Harry made a blatant attack on Catherine here. For William this was the lowest of the low,” he quotes a family friend.

Elsewhere, Hardman praises Harry for showing respect at the end of the coronation. He notes that when the congregation bowed to the king after the ceremony, the Duke of Sussex dropped his head “longer than most.”