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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Tamara Davison

Paul Burrell 'gobsmacked' that Meghan and Harry chose Queen's intimate name for baby

Royal butler Paul Burrell said he was 'gobsmacked' when he learned that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had decided to name their newborn baby daughter Lilibet.

The 63-year-old former Royal household servant, who has been quite critical of Harry's recent behaviour, admitted that he was 'surprised' that the Sussexes had opted for the Queen's most intimate name.

His remarks came over a week after Harry and Meghan welcomed their second child together and announced that they had named the newborn Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

While Harry is said to have spoken to the Queen about his hope of naming his second child after her, Burrell suggested that the touching tribute was actually quite 'inappropriate'.

Harry and Meghan welcomed a baby girl at the start of June (Getty Images)
Paul Burrell suggested that the name was 'inappropriate' (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

He also went on to suggest that he felt sorry for Meghan Markle's mum Doria, who appears to have been shunned from getting a mention.

"I was absolutely gobsmacked when I heard the baby's name. Having worked alongside the Queen for over a decade, I know just how deeply personal, private and precious that name is to her," Paul told Closer magazine.

"No one would dare refer to her as that - it was only for those closest to her. I know Harry said the Queen did approve - but that totally surprises me.

Paul added: "I don't doubt Harry and Meghan both believe it's a tremendous tribute to her. But I know it's such an intimate name and not one that she'd ever want to be used generally. I think it's very inappropriate."

Lilibet is the affectionate nickname the Queen was given by her grandfather George V as a child after she had trouble pronouncing Elizabeth. Harry and Meghan's daughter is also named after the Duke's late mother, Princess Diana, who tragically died in 1997.

However, Paul also suggested that it felt 'off' that the new parents had also decided not to also commemorate Meghan's mum Doria when naming their daughter.

The Queen's nickname is Lilibet - and is only used by her closest family members (SplashNews.com)

He went on: "I honestly don't think Doria was commercial enough for them - Lilibet and Diana have an immediate association, but Doria doesn't. I thought it was very off they didn't pay tribute to her. They have spent time criticising Harry's family - yet name their daughter after the head of it."

It is certainly not the first time that Paul has waded into Royal matters and had previously taken aim at Prince Harry for agreeing to take part in several explosive interviews alongside Oprah Winfrey.

After three appearances alongside the talkshow host, during which Harry opened up about his mental struggles as well as childhood experiences in the Royal Family, Paul criticised Meghan for 'blinding' Harry.

Burrell, who formerly worked as Harry's mother Princess Diana's butler and knew the Duke of Sussex when he was three, also added that Harry will be 'broken' after realising what he's done to the family.

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