Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu has hit out at the late Queen Elizabeth, describing her as “petty” and “vindictive” after reports that she was angry with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for naming their daughter Lilibet, her family nickname.
Princess Lilibet Diana was born on June 4 2021 in California, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex claiming at the time the names were chosen as a tribute to the royals.
Harry and Meghan said they would not have chosen the name if the late Queen had not been “supportive”, however a new royal biography has contrarily stated Her Late Majesty was in fact less than pleased.
On Tuesday’s Jeremy Vine show Dr Shola said: “I find this whole conversation so utterly ridiculous. First of all, the Queen does not own the name Lilibet. It pre-dates her.
“The name Lilibet existed before Queen Elizabeth, and it is not about seeking permission, it is all about the fact that they have the right to name their child what they want to.”
The lawyer and activist added: “Even if they did not get her permission and informed her [what] they were going to name their child, that is perfectly ok.
“The fact that Buckingham Palace is in any way supporting this ridiculous story…This is ridiculous, it’s not a credible or even newsworthy story.”
In Robert Hardman’s new royal biography Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, an aide said the late monarch was “as angry as I’d ever seen her” after the Sussexes said they had her blessing to choose the name Lilibet for their new baby.
Royal commentator Emily Andrews told TalkTV how the Queen would likely have shown her fury at Harry and Meghan’s position, even if it was in a subtle way such as with an eyebrow raise.
She said: “As we know, she was not someone who sort of shouted and screamed… She wasn’t a woman who particularly emoted. She wasn’t as in touch with her feelings, perhaps, as her grandson Harry.
“But I think it’s very interesting that she was just, kind of, at the end of her tether… What she was so angry about was the fact that the Sussexes [said] they had her permission – they had her blessing – to use this very special nickname.”
Ms Andrews acknowledged there could have been a misunderstanding between the late Queen and her grandson if he phoned her to get her thoughts on the name choice.
She added: “We don’t know if there was some sort of misunderstanding. Did the [late] Queen think that their daughter was going to be called Elizabeth? As of course Princess Charlotte has [Elizabeth] as a middle name.
“Did the [late] Queen feel railroaded into agreeing to her name being Lilibet because Harry presented it as a fait accompli? Those details we don’t know.
“I think it’s fascinating that in this new biography of Charles we are getting all these details about how the Palace dealt with the Sussexes.”
