to rest by finally updating the website, indicating that Lili is eighth in the line of succession, right behind her brother Archie.
The move follows days of coverage by the British press regarding whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had obtained the Queen’s permission to use her nickname Lilibet for their new-born baby girl. Some news outlets even alleged that the couple had not asked the Queen about using the name, although the Sussexes’ spokesperson said the Queen was made aware and they had her blessing.
“The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement, in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called. During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name,” the spokesperson said.
The issue regarding the omission of Lili from the line of succession followed Prince Harry’s recent announcement regarding his upcoming 2022 memoir, in which he will share will share his experiences, losses and life lessons, including his time in the royal family. When inquired about the news, Buckingham Palace declined to comment, adding that “Any clarification about the book would be a question for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”
Meanwhile, a royal insider told Mail Online that a small group of staff who worked for the Sussexes are concerned that the book may promote “a false narrative” regarding how the couple was treated while they were living in the UK. “Harry and Meghan’s former staff members are convinced that this book is being written to settle scores and will likely include a lot of detail about their time within the Royal Family,” the source told the website. “Conversations have already started about what steps they might be able to take to protect their own reputation and that of the monarchy post-publication.” According to another source, some of these steps may include “legal remedies” if the book “smears any individual staff members unfairly”.
