Meghan Markle Gives Birth to Daughter Pays Tribute to Queen Diana

Meghan Markle has given birth to a baby girl named after Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana.

The Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry welcomed their second child on Friday at 11.40am in Santa Barbara, their spokespeople confirm.

The newborn is called Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, or Lili for short.Lilibet is the Queen’s nickname within the royal family, while her middle name also honors Prince Harry’s mother.

Meghan and Harry said in a statement on their Archewell 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.”Lili was born weighing 7lbs 11oz at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, around seven miles from the couple’s Montecito home.

A statement from Harry and Meghan’s spokespeople read: “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.

“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. 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’s spokesperson confirmed the news she was pregnant in February with an announcement that Archie was preparing to be a big brother.

A statement at the time read: “We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.”

And Prince Harry then told Oprah Winfrey the baby was going to be a girl during the couple’s CBS prime time special.He said: “To have any child, any one or any two, would be amazing, but to have a boy and then a girl, what more can you ask for?”

He added: “Now we’ve got our family. We’ve got the four of us and our two dogs, and it’s great.”

The happy news comes after a tough 2020 for the couple, which saw Meghan lose a pregnancy over the summer.It read: “After changing his diaper, I felt a sharp cramp. I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right.

“I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.

“Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears.

“Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal.”

UPDATE 06/06/21 12.49 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to include a photograph of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their son, Archie.