BUCKINGHAM Palace aides appeared to be caught off guard by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s baby news, posting about Princess Anne on Twitter an hour before congratulating the couple.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
