Queen Elizabeth Is Hosting a Party on Lilibet’s First Birthday — But Not for Her Great-Grandaughter

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

• Queen Elizabeth reportedly gave herself the nickname ‘Lilibet.’
• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid tribute to his grandmother when they named their daughter.
• Her Majesty is hosting a party on Lilibet’s first birthday — but not for her great-granddaugter.

Queen Elizabeth went by the nickname “Lilibet” during her childhood. And that’s where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle found inspiration for their daughter’s name — Lilibet Diana Mountbatten Windsor. This year, Her Majesty will be hosting a party on Lilibet’s first birthday — but the celebration isn’t for her great-granddaughter.

Queen Elizabeth gave herself the nickname ‘Lilibet’

According to Hello! Magazine, it wasn’t a family member or friend who gave Queen Elizabeth the nickname Lilibet. Instead, she gave the name to herself. As the story goes, Her Majesty wasn’t able to pronounce “Elizabeth” when she was little. Instead, she said “Lilibet” and the adorable name stuck.

While she was growing up, the queen’s parents and grandparents all called her Lilibet. Her father, King George VI, even used the name in a famous quote about Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret. “Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy,” the king said.

Does anyone still use Queen Elizabeth’s nickname?

It appears that the use of the nickname Lilibet is now in the past. The last known person to call the queen that name was her late husband, Prince Philip. When he passed away in the spring of 2021, Queen Elizabeth reportedly signed the nickname on a note that she laid on his casket.

The sweet nickname will live on through the queen’s great-granddaughter. Now, she’s referred to mostly as “Mummy” or “Granny” among royal family members.

Queen Elizabeth is hosting a party on her great-granddaughter’s first birthday

This year is a big one for Queen Elizabeth, as February 6 will mark her 70th year on the throne. There are several celebrations planned throughout the year. Including one that falls on her great-granddaughter Lilibet’s first birthday — June 4.

On that Saturday, the star-studded Platinum Party will take place at Buckingham Palace. They’ve not yet announced the performers for the event. But it’s been promoted as a party that will feature some of the biggest names in entertainment.

The Platinum Party will be part of a series of events that week that includes Trooping the Colour.  The annual event that celebrates the queen’s birthday will take place on Thursday, June 2. One Friday, June 3 there will be a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral. And on Sunday, June 5, the bank holiday break will end with the Big Jubilee Lunch.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle didn’t share a photo of daughter Lilibet until Christmas

When Harry and Meghan welcomed their daughter last summer, they did reveal a few key details about baby number two. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed their daughter’s name, birthdate, and weight (7 lbs. 11oz.). But, the former senior royals didn’t share a photo.

The couple waited until the holiday season to share the first photo of their daughter when they released their family’s 2021 Christmas card.

Lilibet made the Sussexes a family

In the photo taken by the couple’s wedding photographer Alexi Lubomirksi at their home in Montecito, California, the family poses on some steps. Two-year-old Archie Harrison is sitting on Harry’s lap, while Meghan lifts baby Lilibet in the air.

“Happy Holidays. This year, 2021, we welcomed our daughter, Lilibet, to the world. Archie made us a ‘Mama’ and a ‘Papa’, and Lili made us a family,” the card’s message read.

There were rumors that Harry and Meghan didn’t ask the queen’s permission to use her nickname when naming their daughter. But the couple’s spokesperson insisted they consulted Queen Elizabeth first.

“The duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement – in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called,” the spokesperson told the BBC. “During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honor. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.”