A recent podcast comment about baby names has sparked renewed backlash against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex due to their daughter’s name.
In a candid conversation that aired on May 27, Meghan Markle touched on baby-naming advice that some interpreted as ironic, if not hypocritical. The Duchess of Sussex, speaking to Sara Blakely on her podcast “Confessions of a Female Founder,” ignited online outrage due to past disputes over her daughter’s name, Lilibet, which is deeply tied to Queen Elizabeth II.
In the season finale of “Confessions of a Female Founder,” the 43-year-old duchess sat down with the Spanx founder to explore parallels between motherhood and entrepreneurship.
The conversation quickly turned personal when Meghan reflected on the early pressures of launching a brand and raising children under intense public scrutiny.
“You’re like, ‘What do you think?'” The Duchess of Sussex said. She then warned against asking others to weigh in on deeply personal decisions, such as naming a baby.
“It’s no different — I will say this to every woman in the world or every person in the world who’s going to have a child — if you have an idea about what you are going to name that baby, you keep it so close to your heart, until that baby is born and it’s named. Don’t ask anyone’s opinion,” she continued.
Her comments carried particular weight due to her children’s high-profile names: Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Almost immediately after the episode aired, reactions erupted across social media.
Many fans and critics alike recalled the controversy that followed the couple’s 2021 decision to name their daughter Lilibet—Queen Elizabeth II’s personal family nickname.
Online, some individuals called out the contradiction between Meghan’s guidance on baby naming and her own actions. One person commented, “Funny they publicly stated they got permission to use the name? Turns out they did steal. Another lie exposed.”
In posts calling Meghan’s comment “Her No. 1 Rule for Baby Names,” another netizen added, “Like the one that she stole from the Queen? 😡” A viewer wrote, “Steal your husband’s grandmother’s private nickname without her consent. That’s what you do.”
The sentiment was echoed in another comment: “What, steal the Queens personal private nickname. [sic]” Others questioned the decision with comments like, “Marry Royal and name them after your in-laws?” One netizen asked, “Steal your mother in law’s [sic] cherished pet name Lilliibet without permission?”
A Reddit commenter offered a more skeptical take,when did queen e “I think they lied about that approval.” Some questioned Meghan’s authority to give baby-naming advice at all, “A woman who named her son ‘Archie’ should not be giving baby name advice. 🤣”
Still, not all feedback was negative. A few fans supported her sentiments and naming choices. One wrote, “I love her baby names.”
Meanwhile, another defended her podcast counsel: “This is good advice…there will always be one person who doesn’t like the name(s) you’ve chosen, so, rather than listen to complaints or other suggestions for however many months, just keep it to yourself until the baby is born!”
Expressions of goodwill also emerged, with one fan commenting, “Aw! 😍the kids are growing up so fast and the little I can see I bet they are precious and beautiful 🤩 May God bless them always.”
Another chimed in with, “Love this and 3xactly what were gonna do when we get pregnant with number because everyone and they mama had an issue with the names we wanted. [sic]”
When Prince Harry and Meghan welcomed their daughter on June 4, 2021, the announcement came with joyful fanfare and a heartfelt message from Archewell. The couple stated that they honored both Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana by naming their child Lilibet Diana.
Their official statement explained that “Lili” was a tribute to the Queen’s childhood nickname, coined when she couldn’t pronounce “Elizabeth” correctly. That nickname was a term of deep familial affection, used only by close relatives, including Prince Philip.
Soon after the name was announced, multiple sources provided conflicting accounts regarding whether the Queen had given her blessing. Page Six reported that Prince Harry had spoken to his grandmother beforehand and had received her approval.
However, just days later, the BBC contradicted this, citing a Palace source who insisted the Queen had not been consulted about the use of her nickname.
The Sussexes quickly countered this narrative through a spokesperson and their law firm, Schillings. They maintained that Harry had, in fact, spoken with his grandmother and would not have used the name without her support.
“The duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement—in fact, his grandmother was the first family member he called,” the statement said. According to them, the Queen had been informed before the public announcement and had not objected.
Despite the rebuttals, public doubt lingered. The Queen’s nickname carried substantial emotional weight; it was used on intimate occasions, including when she signed “Lilibet” on the funeral wreath for Lord Mountbatten.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have faced continuous public and media criticism. Their every move, especially anything that appears to tie them back to the British monarchy, often reignites unresolved tensions.
With Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in Balmoral on September 8, 2022, the emotional significance of the name Lilibet has only deepened. Now, Meghan’s advice has reignited criticism, once again placing her and her husband under public fire—and given the history, it’s no surprise that people took issue with that particular remark.
