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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ryan O'Neill

The Queen's nickname that only her family used

Millions of people around the world are set to mourn Queen Elizabeth II as she is laid to rest on September 19. The funeral of the UK's longest-reigning monarch will take place at Westminster Abbey in London with millions watching worldwide and screens around the UK showing the ceremony.

The funeral comes after several days of the monarch's lying in state which saw thousands queue for long periods to walk past the Queen's coffin. It was announced on Sunday that the queue had closed, prompting anger from well-wishers who turned up to pay their respects on Monday morning. You can find out more about that here.

With so much happening since the Queen's passing on September 8, it's easy to forget that she was part of a family with its own traditions and private jokes. One of these was the family's tendency to give each other nicknames over the years.

Read more: The Queen's funeral plans: The full hour-by-hour timetable of what will happen

One nickname for the Queen often used by members of the royals - especially close family - was Lilibet. The story goes that this stemmed from when she was much younger and struggled to pronounce her own name Elizabeth.

Lilibet stuck and was used by her parents, the Queen Mother and King George VI, and her late husband Prince Philip. In one thank you note to her grandmother, Queen Mary, the Queen once wrote: "Darling Granny. Thank you very much for the lovely doll's house. I do love it, and I have unpacked the dining room and the hall. Love from Lilibet xxx."

The tradition of the name has continued in the royal family too. Meghan and Harry welcomed their daughter Lilibet on 4 June 2021, announcing in a statement: "It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world.

"Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet," they said in their announcement.

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