Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcome baby daughter named Lilibet Diana

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have welcomed their baby girl into the world.

Making the announcement on their Archewell website, the couple said Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, who was born on Friday, 4 June at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, was "more than we could have ever imagined" and is now "settling in at home".

Harry and Meghan's second child, who weighed 7lb 11oz, has been named after the family nickname for her great-grandmother the Queen, while her middle name honours her late grandmother, the Princess of Wales, the couple said.

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Lilibet is the couple’s second child, after Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned two in May.

She is eighth in line to the throne, and the highest in line to be born in the US.

In a message of thanks from Meghan and Harry on the Archewell website, they said: "On June 4, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili.

"She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe.

"Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.”

The couple asked anyone wishing to send a present to support organisations working for women and girls.

A message on the Archewell website reads: "For those inquiring on sending gifts, we would ask that you support or learn more about these organisations working for women and girls: Girls Inc., Harvest Home, CAMFED or Myna Mahila Foundation."

Congratulations quickly poured in for the couple on the birth of their second child, including from the Royal family.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: “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.”

Others to congratulate the couple including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, charities close to Harry's heart and Star Trek actor William Shatner.

Johnson wrote: “Many congratulations to The Duke & Duchess of Sussex on the birth of their daughter" while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “Wonderful news! Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.”

The Diana Award, set up to continue the legacy of Harry's mother, tweeted: “Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of their daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

“We extend our warmest wishes to the duke, the duchess and little Archie.”

A tweet from the Wellchild charity, of which Harry is a patron, read: “Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.

“We wish our patron the duke, and the duchess every happiness as they start this new adventure.”

Comedian and actress Ellen DeGeneres, a friend of the couple, tweeted: “Congratulations Meghan, Harry and Archie. Welcome to the world Lilibet! I am more than a Lilibet excited to meet you.”

Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, announced they were pregnant with their second child in February 2021, sharing a black and white image of them relaxing in a garden, Meghan's bump visible underneath a dress she had made when she was pregnant with Archie.

They announced Meghan's pregnancy by saying Archie, who turned two in May, would be a big brother. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, they confirmed they were expecting a girl.

It came after Meghan opened up about their grief when a pregnancy ended in miscarriage in the summer of 2020.

Meghan wrote a deeply personal essay for the New York Times where she explained she tried "to imagine how we'd heal" as she lay in a hospital bed.

The baby girl is the 11th great-grandchild for the Queen, who has welcomed two other royal arrivals this year.

Meghan and Harry's second child will never meet her great-grandfather, Prince Philip, who died on 9 April, three weeks after returning to Windsor Castle from a month-long stay in hospital.

In a tribute to his grandfather, Harry said: "You will be sorely missed, but always remembered – by the nation and the world. Meghan, Archie, and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts."

The royal couple is now living in California, Meghan's home state, and working on podcasts with Spotify, as well as documentaries, scripted series and children's programming for Netflix.

They gave their first interview to US chat show host Oprah Winfrey, who has become a friend of the couple since attending their wedding in Windsor in May 2018.

In the interview they made several big claims, including that someone in the family had made racist remarks about the colour of Archie's skin before he was born.

Meghan said she was not offered support for her mental health when she was suffering suicidal thoughts, while Harry said he had been "trapped" in the institution.

Harry returned to the UK for the first time in more than a year in April 2021 when he attended the funeral of Prince Philip.

He walked behind the coffin alongside other family members but had to sit alone because of coronavirus guidelines.

He was filmed chatting to his brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law Kate, following the service, raising hopes of reconciliation between the brothers.

Harry and Meghan's firstborn, Archie, does not have a royal title as his parents declined the offer of one at his birth.

At the time of his birth they were senior royals, working for the monarchy, but they announced they wanted to step back from this position in January 2020.

Archie had already been with them in Canada from November 2019, and has not been back to the UK since.

Their second child is unlikely to have a royal title, as Harry and Meghan no longer use their own HRH stylings but are still the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

However both Archie and his sister could be prince and princess when the Queen dies as then they will be grandchildren of the monarch.

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