BUCKINGHAM Palace aides appeared to be caught off guard by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's baby announcement, congratulating them on Twitter three hours after the news went public.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the birth of their daughter Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, who shares the Queen's family nickname, at 5pm GMT on Sunday.
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But it seems palace aides were not given advance notice of the announcement, with the Royal Family's social media team taking three hours to acknowledge the news on Twitter.
A post shared at 8pm on the Royal Family's official account read: "Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of Lilibet Diana!
"The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted with the news."
An hour earlier – and two hours after Meghan and Harry confirmed they had welcomed their baby girl – the Firm shared a selection of photos of Princess Anne in Dorset.
What we know so far:
- Meghan and Harry have given birth to a baby girl called Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor in a touching nod to the Queen
- She was born at hospital in Santa Barbara on Friday morning weighing 7lbs 11oz
- Lili and Meghan are "healthy and well" and "settling in at home"
- Meghan and Harry have asked people to support organisations working for women and girls instead of giving a present
- Lili is now eighth in line to the throne, behind her older brother Archie
- Meghan and Harry kept birth a secret for two DAYS before announcing baby joy to the world
- Queen, William and Kate Middleton say they are 'delighted' after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcome baby Lilibet
- The clues Meghan Markle and Prince Harry chose their baby girl’s name Lili years earlier
The post, which would appear less noteworthy than the birth of Meghan and Harry's baby, read: "This week HRH The Princess Royal, Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Corps of Signals, travelled to Dorset to celebrate the first anniversary of the 13th Signal Regiment."
Sources suggest Palace officials were left out of the loop – and only found out at 5pm along with the rest of the world.
It wasn't until 6.34pm – over an hour and a half after Meghan and Harry's announcement – that the Royal Family released a well-wishing statement about the good news.
"The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed and are delighted with the news of the birth of a daughter for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex," a spokesperson said.
Buckingham Palace officials were said to be unaware the baby had been born until the announcement came out at 5pm on social media, according to Mail.
The Palace declined to discuss when the Queen was informed of the safe arrival of her newest great-grandchild – or whether she was advised on Lili’s name.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, gave birth at 11.40am local time on Friday at a hospital ten minutes’ drive from their £11million mansion in Montecito, California.
The baby weighed in at 7lbs 1oz.
All three royal households posted photographs of the Sussexes on their social media channels alongside congratulatory messages at 8pm.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tweeted: "We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili.
"Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie."
Prince Charles and Camilla wrote at the same time: "Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie on the arrival of baby Lilibet Diana.
"Wishing them all well at this special time."
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