London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 16, 2026

Kate Middleton says she 'can't wait to meet baby Lilibet'

Kate Middleton says she 'can't wait to meet baby Lilibet'

The Duchess of Cambridge ‘can’t wait’ to meet Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s baby daughter Lilibet, despite recent tensions in the Royal Family.

Kate Middleton, 39, was asked about her new niece during a visit to a school in Cornwall for the G7 summit.

She said: ‘I wish her all the very best, I can’t wait to meet her. We haven’t met her yet but hopefully that will be soon’.

The Duchess also confirmed that she hadn’t had the chance to Facetime with her niece yet, after Harry and Meghan introduced their daughter to the Queen on a video call.

Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born last Friday at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, California, weighing 7lb 11 oz.

She will be known as ‘Lili’ for short, after the Royal Family’s nickname for the Queen.

Her middle name was chosen to honour her late grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales.


It follows months of tensions between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family

Kate and her husband Prince William are understood to have already sent a gift to Los Angeles for Lilibet, a source told US Weekly.

In a social media post soon after hearing of the birth, the Cambridges said: ‘We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie.’

It follows months of tensions between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family in the fallout of their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The couple made a number of shocking claims during the CBS special in March, including that a member of the family raised concerns over what colour their son Archie’s skin would be.

Meghan, 39, said she had suicidal thoughts as she struggled with the pressure of being a senior royal, claiming she couldn’t get any help from Buckingham Palace.

She also said the palace didn’t help her shut down rumours that she made Kate cry during a bridesmaid dress fitting and claimed it had actually been the other way around.
Meghan and Harry announced the birth of their second child on Sunday

She also suggested Archie was not given the title of prince because he is mixed-race, while Harry suggested his father and brother were ‘trapped’ by the institution and couldn’t leave like he did.

More recently the Duke of Sussex caused a stir at the Palace when he appeared to have a dig at his dad Charles’ parenting, claiming he wanted to break a cycle of ‘genetic pain’.

It has been suggested that Harry and Meghan’s choice of name for their newborn daughter could be an ‘olive branch’ to the Royal Family.

The couple have hit back at claims that they did not mention to the Queen in advance what they planned to name their baby, despite a palace source telling the BBC otherwise.
Kate and Prince William are understood to have already sent a gift for Lilibet to LA

Harry and Meghan have since threatened the corporation with legal action through law firm Schillings, claiming its story was ‘false and defamatory’.

The Duke says he told the Queen they wanted to name their daughter Lilibet and said ‘had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name’.

But it is thought this call was made after the baby was born but before the Sussexes’ announcement.

Rather than backing their turn of events, Buckingham Palace has refused to deny suggestions the Queen was ‘never asked’ about the name.

Reports suggest that while the monarch was told that Lilibet would be named after her, royal aides only found out about her birth with the rest of the world.

Buckingham Palace appeared to be caught off guard by the timing of the news, with a spokesman congratulating the couple 90 minutes after it broke.

Some time after the Sussexes statement but before they responded, the palace posted news about Princess Anne travelling to Dorset for the anniversary of the 13th Signal Regiment.

They finally released a message hailing the ‘happy news’ at 6.34pm


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
French National Assembly Overrides Senate to Pass Historic Assisted-Dying Legislation
Spanish Prime Minister's Wife Ordered to Stand Trial as Corruption Probes Encircle Governing Party
Zelensky Faces Kyiv Protests Over Ousting of Dynamic Ukrainian Defense Minister
Colombia Influencer Dies After Cosmetic Procedure at Unlicensed Bogota Salon
Thomas Tuchel Faces Fierce Backlash After Tactical Retreat Costs England World Cup Final Berth
A Quiet Bastille Day: France Grapples with World Cup Heartbreak and Leftover Fireworks
Canadian Wildfire Crisis Triggers Transnational Air Quality Alerts Ahead of Soccer Finale
UK Housing Reform Debate Intensifies Over Tenant Protection Measures
UK Defence Official Challenges Russian Narrative on NATO Readiness and European Security
UK Names Independent Member to Judicial Pension Board to Strengthen Oversight
UK Parliamentary Committee Sets New Framework for Select Committee Leadership Roles
UK Government Pushes Energy Savings Through School Solar Expansion Plan
UK Committee Reviews Future of Gaelic Broadcasting and Language Support
UK Government Expands Industrial Skills Support in Wales as Steel Sector Faces Change
UK Rejects Russian Claims That European Defence Spending Is Aggressive
UK Schools and Gaelic Broadcasting Among Areas Reviewed in New Parliamentary Inquiries
UK Housing Committee Calls for Stronger Tenant Protections Under Rental Reform Plans
UK Government Faces Pressure for Stronger Oversight After South East Water Failings Report
UK Parliament Opens Inquiry Into Safety of Women and Girls on Public Transport
UK Defence Ministry Appoints Interim Chief Defence Medical Officer During Transition Period
UK Government Announces Five Million Pound Skills Programme for Young People in Port Talbot
UK Government Launches Solar Programme to Cut Energy Costs for Schools
Met Office Warns Extreme Weather Is Becoming More Common Across the UK
UK Government Faces Internal Debate Over New Chancellor Appointment Under Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham Set to Become UK Prime Minister After Keir Starmer’s Resignation
UK Economy Grows Slightly in May as Supply Chain Disruptions Continue to Weigh on Industry
British Steel Moves Into UK Public Ownership to Protect Domestic Steel Production and Jobs
Spain in Ecstasy: "We Feel Unbeatable, We Taught the Whole World a Lesson"
Spain and UK Dismantle Gibraltar Border Following Landmark Schengen Integration Treaty
Church of England Rejects Plan to Rewild Thirty Percent of Land by 2030
UK Parliament Examines Future of Gaelic Broadcasting in Scotland
Thames Water Faces Criticism Over Four Million Pounds in Bonus Payments
South East Water Crisis Puts UK Water Regulation Under Renewed Scrutiny
UK Report Highlights Racial Inequality in Homelessness Support Services
UK Government Defends Proposed Social Media Curfew for Teenagers Despite Criticism
Reform UK Gains Recognition as Major Political Party in New Polling
Labour Party Faces Internal Divisions Over Gaza Policy and Asylum Reform
Experts Warn UK Housing and Transport Infrastructure Is Unprepared for Rising Extreme Heat
UK Human Rights Committee Begins Review of Immigration and Asylum Bill
UK Parliament Launches Inquiry Into Declining High Streets Across England
Bank of England Governor Warns of Growing AI Risks to Global Financial Security
UK Public Finance Institutions Mobilize Fifty Billion Pounds to Support Growth and Jobs
UK Parliament Opens Inquiry Into Long-Term Strategy Toward Russia
UK-India Trade Agreement Takes Effect With Zero-Duty Access for Nearly All Indian Exports
Forget Tinder: The Surprising Platform Where People Find Love
UK Government Faces Growing Debate Over Local Control of Immigration Enforcement
UK Biodiversity Forum Highlights Business Need to Protect Natural Environment
UK Parliament to Consider Workplace Temperature Limits Amid Climate Concerns
UK Parliament Considers Independent Immigration Appeals Authority Proposal
BBC Charter Renewal Scrutiny Intensifies as Parliament Reviews Broadcaster’s Future
×