Sound the exciting royal news klaxon: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially welcomed their second child into the world, a baby girl named Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. The couple's happy news was shared via a statement issued to the press and on their Archewell website two days after the birth, which added that both mother and baby are doing well. It also says that Lilibet was born at 11:40AM on Friday at a hospital in Santa Barbara and weighed 7 lbs 11 oz.
In the official statement, a spokesperson for Meghan and Harry said: "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."
It added that the name Lilibet is a family nickname for Queen Elizabeth and that Diana as a middle name is of course a tribute to Princess Diana, Harry's mother. "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."
The couple also posted a message of thanks to the public 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."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex first revealed that they were expecting a daughter during their interview with Oprah Winfrey, which has since been viewed by millions. Meghan proudly cradled her bump and said that her little one would be due in "the summer time".
News of their expanding family was first detailed publicly back in February, with royal correspondent Omid Scobie (who co-authored the unofficial biography about Meghan and Harry, called Finding Freedom), posting on Twitter: "Baby news! 'We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother,' says a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan. 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.'"
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The couple also took part in an intimate (and COVID-secure photoshoot) with photographer Misan Harriman, showing Meghan lying on Harry's lap, happily sporting an already visible bump:
Meghan and Harry already have a two-year-old son, Archie Harrison, together, who we're sure is delighted about becoming an older brother. Heartbreakingly, the Duchess also shared in a candid essay that she suffered a miscarriage before her recent pregnancy too.
During their Oprah interview, the Sussexes also said they were only planning on having two children, so Lili is likely the last addition they'll be welcoming into their family. "To have any child, any one or two, would be amazing. But to have a boy and then a girl, what more could you ask for?" said Harry. "Now we’ve got our family, the four of us and our two dogs." When asked if they would like more children in future, Meghan replied, "Two is it."
A huge congratulations to Meghan, Harry and Archie on their very special new bundle of joy - fingers crossed the family will pay a visit to the UK at some point this year too (after all, there'll no doubt be many excited friends and family members who'd love to meet little Lili, right?).
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Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
