People: Prince Harry & Meghan ‘video called’ the Queen soon after Lili was born

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visit Tembisa Township on the outskirts of Johannesburg during day 10 of their South African Tour

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s happy baby news covers this week’s issue of People Magazine. There’s not a ton of new information in the cover story, but it’s just a nice, positive piece which acts as the start of the latest chapter of the Sussex saga. They told their truth in the Oprah interview, Harry aired out his ghosts in The Me You Can’t See, and now they can start this new adventure with a relatively clean slate and two cute babies. Some highlights from People:

Their American roots: The proud parents, who have said that their daughter Lili “completes” their family alongside 2-year-old Archie Harrison, “are so happy,” a close friend tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “This baby solidifies that they are creating roots here in the States.”

They are still part of the royal family: Although they stepped back from their roles as working royals, they have always said they never left the royal family itself. And when they announced the June 4 birth of their daughter, the baby girl’s name-Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor-spoke volumes. The name Lilibet – Queen Elizabeth’s childhood nickname – signifies the closeness that endures between Harry and the Queen, says royal historian Robert Lacey.

The bond between the Queen & Harry: After the 1997 death of Princess Diana, “She was a sort of stepmother for both Harry and William,” says Lacey. “We have all focused on her coaching of William as the future King, but we are realizing now the importance of the emotional bonds that she’s been able to establish with Harry, and their ability to talk to each other directly. That affection remains.”

They introduced the Queen to Lilibet on a Zoom: After returning home from the hospital, they introduced Harry’s grandmother to her namesake via a video call, according to a source: “They were very excited and couldn’t wait to share that their daughter arrived.”

How does Archie feel about his lil’ sis: Big brother Archie “is very happy to have a little sister,” says a spokesperson for the couple. “They prepared Archie by talking a lot about the baby. He is too little to understand though,” a source adds. “He is big enough though that he is now starting to have his own life too. He enjoys preschool and outdoor activities. He will have a fun summer.”

The fourth generation: “Lili becomes the fourth generation of amazing, strong women in the family-behind Meghan, Diana and her Majesty the Queen,” says the couple’s friend, Dean Stott. “Harry and Meghan now have their complete family. It’s their time to be in the moment.”

[From People Magazine]

“Fourth generation” made me stop and think. Granted, Harry and William didn’t spend a ton of time with their great-grandmother, the Queen Mum, but she was an old battle-axe and she was definitely a “strong woman.” So really, Lili is the fifth generation. From the Queen Mum, to Liz, to Diana, to Meghan to Lili. As for Archie… yeah, I bet he would have preferred a new puppy! But he’ll grow up adoring his little sister Lili. I love that for Harry too – I always wondered how different Harry’s life would have been if he had a sister, and how much he would have loved growing up with a sister to moderate William’s toxic influence. And now Harry gets to see his son enjoy growing up with a little sister.

As for Harry video-conferencing with his grandmother as soon as they brought Lili Diana home… how does that even work and the courtiers don’t know about it? Is Liz really just sitting in her suite alone, FaceTime-ing her grandson and she doesn’t tell anyone?

Prince Harry visit to Cardiff Castle

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

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58 Responses to “People: Prince Harry & Meghan ‘video called’ the Queen soon after Lili was born”

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  1. Belli says:

    I am enjoying the fact that the courtiers are so pressed at not knowing about the conversations the Queen was having so they could leak, although the seething vitriol is as hateful as ever.

    It sounds like Harry and Meghan have a direct line to the Queen and they used to have video calls with her and Philip regularly, so Her Maj might be quite au fait with the process by now so the staff don’t need to be involved!

    • Wiglet Watcher says:

      Or the courtiers just aren’t telling anyone the truth. Which is always a safe bet. They don’t ever want people to know the queen loves Harry, Meghan and their children. That they talk often with love and respect.

      The more Sussex direct leaks we get the more it seems William and Charles with the courtiers dictated how to punish Harry. And The Queen was fed false or misinformation or not involved. Once she passes I’m certain the attacks will ramp up and Harry might start really burning bridges.

    • MerlinsMom1018 says:

      I wonder? I could be wrong but here’s where my mind went
      Maybe, just maybe QE2 has ONE trusted person (her fave lady in waiting?) that helps her out with zoom and face time with Harry & Meghan? Who waits until the greys are otherwise occupied spewing lies at the press and then says “Right Ma’am, I’m pushing the go button now!!!!”
      Just wondering

      • (TheOG) Jan90067 says:

        Nah… she’d be just as old as Brenda, and doubtfully more computer literate lol. Also, in reality, there is always the time difference btwn LA and London (LA is 8 hrs behind), and we learned from birth announcements that NO ONE disturbs TQ btwn bedtime and when she “rises” (and does her toilette routine).

        I think it’s just Brenda and H&M, with an iPhone/iPad/laptop.

      • TeamAwesome says:

        If she is at Windsor maybe it’s Eugenie?

      • mahcat says:

        She also has local grandchildren though – maybe Zara or Eugenie or someone helps out with setting up FaceTime?

      • RoyalBlue says:

        ah, I just said on another thread I bet it’s Eugenie who visits her gran for tea and hands her the burner phone to zoom call.

      • BooyahB!tches says:

        Please! The Queen maybe in her 90s, but she’s hardly short of her senses! She knows how to call Harry on the phone, and he knows when to call her; no doubt he knows her schedule. She doesn’t need “help” to make a phone call!

  2. goofpuff says:

    Courtiers are scrambling to find the Queen’s hidden phone as we speak.

  3. Noki says:

    I thought H & M are going to do the leaked stories, I may be mistaking. When storries like these come out who is the one that spilled the information ?

    • Becks1 says:

      Well, if you look at this story – a lot of the quotes are from “sources” and that could just be someone at People making it up. There’s nothing really cutting edge in here. There are a few statements from their spokesperson, but that’s not a “leaked story,” that’s People calling and getting a few comments on the record, and Dean Stott went on the record in this story, but he’s done that before for them. So we don’t actually know that the couple facetimed with the Queen, but it makes for a nice story.

    • Cecilia says:

      I think its a combination of legitimate sources that can be named like their spokesperson and friend Dean Stott and a good deal of imaginative writing. Lets not forget that people is a magazine.

    • Noki says:

      *Not

  4. Amy Bee says:

    Even though he had a brother it must have been a lonely existence for Harry especially after his mother died. It’s been reported that the Queen mother used to exclude Harry a lot and only focus on William as the heir, Diana tried to protect Harry from that treatment. It must be fulfilling for Harry that he will be able to bring up his children as siblings away from the restrictions of the palace. I’m really happy for Harry and Meghan.

  5. Cecilia says:

    If harry had a sister he would have been the most protective and lovable big brother. Im sure.

    As for the queen’s video call. Maybe she’s transferring some of her staff over to charles. As part of the soft regency. This way they aren’t around her as much. Im laughing at the idea of Liz having a secret phone or ipad tho.

    • Myra says:

      Hasn’t she moved to Windsor full time? Maybe she has had enough of them. Now there are four courts in UK and the Windsor team have left the BP team out of the loop.

      • anotherlily says:

        BP has effectively moved to St James’ Palace. Charles is running the show now.

  6. Becks1 says:

    That is a nice happy story. They deserve some peace right now to just be happy away from the unending negativity of the british press.

    I bet Harry and William knew the QM fairly well, she didn’t pass until 2002, William was almost 20 when she died and Harry would have been 16 if my math is right (she died….March, I think.)

    I am also intrigued by the idea of the queen facetiming the CA royals. we know that if she did, it was private, or else the birth would have leaked. Part of me wonders if she has brought one or two people into her secret circle (lol), like her lady-in-waiting that rode in the car with her to Philip’s funeral – but it’s so small that she knows who the source is if the news leaks.

    It also makes me think that Charles really is the de facto regent and a lot of the things that used to occupy her time don’t anymore, so she does spend a lot of time facetiming her grandkids or whatever.

    • Elvie says:

      I am imagining a burner iPad with Facetime on it that the Queen’s lady-in-waiting hides in her room and provides each evening so HM can check texts/emails from Harry. hehe.

  7. Noor says:

    According to BBC, Senior Buckingham aides confirmed “that Queen was never asked her opinion on the couple decision to name their 2nd child after her”

    Buckingham Palace would not be making an official statement on the matter.

    A new born babe, your great granddaughter name is being thrashed by Her Majesty subjects and yet the Queen and the Palace remained silent. Sheer Madness.

    • Sure says:

      It’s not so much “sheer madness” as sheer callousness for me. For the family to sit idly while a second biracial child is being abused by racists is despicable. It is further proof that the BRF is very much a racist family.

    • Alexandria says:

      I think we can guess that the Queen and the Palace are separate now. The Palace chooses to do what they want.

      I am laughing that they refused to put out an official statement. It’s obvious they know the truth and are scared.

    • Merricat says:

      I think Charles is directing the messaging from BP, as well as CH. By refusing to comment on it, he’s creating the illusion that H&M didn’t ask the queen for her permission.

    • Lemons says:

      I totally agree! The Queen could issue a quick statement saying that she is very disappointed in the speculation that she is not happy to have a great-grandaughter whose name honors her! For added measure, she should include the fact that she takes private calls from the Sussexes as is her prerogative as a grandmother, royal or not.

      That would put an end to this, and the courtiers and RR can move on to something else.

      • Over it says:

        I agree with you

      • Nan says:

        I agree too. I think she must be two-faced – always sweet to H & M in her granny role but probably grouses out loud like a spiteful old queen in her own chambers. As one does! (lol)

      • February-Pisces says:

        I agree, it could even be a positive statement like they queen is delighted the Sussex’s have paid tribute to her but naming their daughter after her’, but no.

        They instead decide to manufacture even more controversy by making this out to be some great scandal. Even if the queen wasn’t asked (I think she was), it could have been meant as a nice surprise as it is still a tribute to her. I mean who names their child after someone they hate.

        The palace need to create the illusion that the queen rages everytime harry and Meghan breathe, so anything that suggests they have a good relationship, disrupts their faux narrative.

        I think we know that the queen has largely checked out at this point and even if she wanted to say something, the courtiers would bypass her regardless.

  8. Jan says:

    Well the courtiers are leaking like crazy, claiming they didn’t not ask petty Betty’s permission to use the name.
    Imagine, they left her for a minute and out came that burner phone.
    Jamaicans are claiming the Island is crawling with grannies named Lilibet. Black Twitter is claiming it’s a black name.
    One rabid reporter said Lili don’t have a title, but her name is above her station.
    Sometimes I wonder if Harry and Meghan are not in Archie’s Chik house laughing their arse off, at the British Media.

  9. S808 says:

    From the James Cordon interview, they seem to have a direct line to the Queen now. Courtiers seem really shocked that the Queen knew Lili D’s name and didn’t spill. She likely knew about her birth before anyone and kept it to herself too. Idk the inner workings of the palace but I thought there would be a courtier with her at all times so it’s crazy to me that possibly, the Queen kept this a complete secret.

  10. Jan says:

    Charles in a speech yesterday claimed he is a grandfather of five.

  11. Merricat says:

    I’ll bet the queen has a trusted companion who follows her around and protects her like a corgi.

    • Eurydice says:

      Yes, I was just going to say this. It’s not possible that everyone working at the palace is a viper

  12. Laura-Lee MacDonald says:

    My 96 yo Grandpa has an iPad that my parents think he can barely use (because they can barely use one), but he facetimes me and my kids every week. He even figured out filters so he has bunny ears and what not. He thinks it’s hilarious, and he hides the fact that he can use it fully so his kids (my mom, mostly) will continue to think he’s inept and leave him alone with it, thinking he’s just playing solitaire. He’s a long retired engineer, so tech is not a scary thing for him at all. I delight in thinking that Petty Betty has a similar system.

    My grandpa met Betty and Phil when they visited Canada years ago. My grandpa even gave Ol’ Phil a tour of the town. Phil made so many racist ‘jokes’ at the expense of my grandpa’s Asian and South Asian colleagues and upset my grandpa (and his friends) so much, that it sparked my grandpas anti-racism work. Thanks Philip!! Lol

  13. Rapunzel says:

    I suspect they did not ask permission. TQ likely gave it to them freely.

    I picture the convo being:
    Harry: “Gran, we are thinking of naming the baby Lilibet.”
    TQ: “Oh, that would be lovely. I’m touched.”

  14. Harper says:

    Harry said he was always going to name his future daughter Lilibet and probably told Betty that all the time. The old toads at the palace need something new to do besides tsk tsk-ing at everything H&M do.

  15. Vivica says:

    My version of reality is that HM and Harry had a conversation while walking the corgis at Frogmore. HM was talking shit about everyone at The Firm and told Harry to give them hell. Then when HM asked about Meghan and the pregnancy, Harry told her what they were thinking of naming her and HM loved the idea and was tickled about having another thing to hide from her aides. I would like to think that Petty Betty has turned on The Firm for everything that they have done “in her name” over the last five years and that the soft regency has been in place much longer than we realize. #EndFanFiction

  16. Amyb says:

    Do they not think that H&M recorded the call with the Queen? LOL. This is not their first time at the RR rodeo. They have the receipts.

  17. Over it says:

    I think the queen phone that she uses to talk to Harry is registered in her lady in waiting name . So she keeps it for the queen and so therefore palace aids never think to look at them. Lolol

  18. SusanRagain says:

    I am fine with “video called.”
    I am WFH and in the last 2 years, I have streamlined my life a ton.
    Downsized belongings, purposely thinned out people who I should have cut contact with years ago.

    I’ve done video Drs. appts., personal and business meetings with lawyers and contractors, etc.
    Turns out = I am an introvert who has finally, finally had enough of almost everyone. Except the kid, the dog and the favorite brother. Every one else? Thank you, no. lol

    Video is fine, ffs! TQ is 95 and M just gave birth. What the hell else could they do?
    Plus, I’d deeply like to state that we are still in a pandemic, people.
    Minnesota here, and the amount of unvaccinated humans is off the F N charts. I predict by mid August we are going to be back in a huge sh*t storm. Fight me.

    All the endless bitching at H&M really needs to stop.
    The Firm, RR, all the paps, the entire world media is a money making machine and I think, Harry was right, they are trapped.
    The press will follow and dog anyone in The BRF for their entire lives. One way or another.

    I wish H&M some peace and quiet with their happy, healthy little ones.
    Everyone should be grateful in their own lives if they have loved ones, focus on that.

  19. Lucy says:

    It’s a lovely story, I’m annoyed that the focus on four generations of strong women doesn’t include Doria or her mother.
    Maybe she doesn’t want to be brought up every time the kids ancestors are, but for me, it would bug me. Assuming my amazing daughter married a prince and everyone was going on about how great all these other women were.
    Anyway, I hope the BBC reveals they’re super secret palace source that’s giving conflicting info. Expose them all.

  20. Amelie says:

    I was going to say I bet Harry told his grandmother the baby’s name while he was in London for Philip’s funeral. What better way than to tell her in person? It was confirmed he met with her privately and I bet you he told her then.

    • MsIam says:

      I’m sure he told her at some point. They knew they were having a girl. I’m not sure what the “protocol” is for names and if the name must be delivered on silver plate by a servant or what but I would bet Harry and Meghan discussed this with the queen well ahead of time.

  21. Adrienne says:

    I am soooo curious about the dynamics behind the scenes at Buckingham Palace. It’s funny that Liz seems to just be doing her own thing at this point, love that for her. William, Charles and the courtiers are so pressed and Elizabeth is over there zooming and FaceTiming with the Sussexes whenever she wants lmao

  22. Athena says:

    The queen doesn’t have to be technologically savvy to click on the zoom link in an email. She probably does have an iPad or laptop since the pandemic to keep in touch with family.
    I’m disappointed she hasn’t put a stop to this. At this point if I would have removed her name from my child birth certificate. If we think people are upset now, imagine how they would react if the name was changed.
    Years ago after my husband and I separated I was hurt by my in-laws response so I removed my mother in law’s picture from the living room. My mother, while visiting kept going on and on about how I should have kept the picture. Finally I had it with her nonsense and removed her picture from the living room. That put a stop to the comments.