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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Royal cousins Princess Charlotte and Lilibet's touching connection in memory of Diana

In just a few days time, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be marking a very special occasion.

On Sunday, their young daughter Princess Lilibet will be celebrating her second birthday in what's bound to be a fun-filled celebration.

Lilibet will most likely be celebrating with older brother Prince Archie and grandma Doria - but missing will be her older cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

With both sets of children living on opposite sides of the Atlantic, there have hardly been any meet ups between them.

But this doesn't stop both Charlotte and Lilibet having a special connection that links them both.

Harry and Meghan's daughter Lilibet, who turns two this weekend (PA)
Lilibet's older cousin Princess Charlotte (AFP via Getty Images)

That's because both girls have a middle name in common - that of their late grandmother Princess Diana.

Eight-year-old Charlotte's full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, while Lilibet's is Lilibet Diana.

Neither child got to meet their paternal grandmother Diana, who died aged 36 in 1997 following a car crash in Paris.

But it's not just a tribute to their late granny that they have in common - their names also have a sweet nod to their late great-grandmother the Queen.

A picture of Lilibet from Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan (Netflix)

Charlotte has Elizabeth as a middle name while Lilibet's unusual moniker is a pet name that was given to the late monarch.

The late Queen was nicknamed Lilibet as a child because that is how she would pronounce her name.

It became established as a nickname with King George V, her grandad, who would tease the then Princess Elizabeth for being unable to say her own name correctly.

And like most other royals, the girls also go by nicknames - something that is common among the Firm.

Charlotte also has several nicknames from her parents William and Kate (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

To her parents Harry and Meghan, Lilibet is referred to as the shortened version - Lili.

While Charlotte has been called several different names by her parents the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Several years ago dad William was heard calling out for his daughter by saying 'Mignonette'. The French word is said to mean "small, sweet, and delicate" or "cute". Older French definitions also show it can mean gentle and kind.

It's rather different from the nickname Kate has previously been known to call her daughter - Lottie.

During an official trip to Northern Ireland in 2019, Kate met a fellow mum called Laura-Ann and her son.

Laura-Ann posted about the meeting on Instagram, claiming Kate had revealed her nickname for Charlotte during their conversation.

She said: "She asked how old Bertie is, and I said he is four and she said, 'Oh, he's the same age as Lottie.' She calls her Lottie!"

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