Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly panicked after a hospital leak revealed the real identity details of their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, reigniting widespread speculation and controversy surrounding her birth.
The leaked birth certificate, obtained from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where Lilibet was born on June 4, 2021, shows notable differences compared to that of their son Archie. While Prince Harry is listed on the birth certificate as "The Duke of Sussex" with "His Royal Highness" as his last name—a legal formality reflecting his royal status—Meghan used her birth name, "Rachel Meghan Markle," without any royal title attached. This contrasts sharply with Archie’s birth certificate, where Meghan identified as "Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex."
The leak has alarmed the Sussexes because it brings renewed scrutiny to the couple’s careful management of their image and the privacy of their children. The absence of Meghan’s royal title on Lilibet’s documents symbolizes the couple’s break from traditional royal protocols and reflects their desire to maintain distance from the monarchy after stepping back from senior royal duties.
Sources say Harry and Meghan were particularly concerned about how this information could be weaponized by critics, fueling ongoing rumors about surrogacy and the legitimacy of their children’s birth narratives. The couple has been fiercely protective of their private life, and this leak is seen as an invasion that threatens their efforts to control media exposure.
In summary, the hospital leak of Lilibet’s birth certificate revealing her real identity details has caused panic for Harry and Meghan, exposing differences from Archie’s records and reigniting controversies over royal titles and privacy. This incident highlights the ongoing tension between their desire for a private life and relentless public scrutiny.