Prince Charles did not mention the name of his latest grandchild, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, while on his first public engagement after her birth two weeks ago.
After welcoming their second child on Friday, June 4, naming her Lilibet Diana in honor of Queen Elizabeth II and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, congratulations flooded from around the world to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Via their official Twitter account, a message from the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall sent “congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie on the arrival of baby Lilibet Diana.”
They wished the Sussexes well in the brief statement, which was posted shortly after the birth was announced by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle earlier this month.
And this week, Prince Charles took a trip to a Mini car factory in Oxford, where he spoke about environmental responsibility and looking after the Earth.
Saying that he is now very “aware” of looking after the planet after becoming a grandfather “for the fifth time,” Prince Charles said he believed “innovation” was key to the legacy left behind to future generations.
The heir to the throne made this brief comment about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s newborn royal baby: “The development of technology like electric vehicles… Is vital for maintaining the health of our world for future generations… Something I am only too aware of today, having recently become a grandfather for the fifth time. Such happy news really does remind one of the necessity of continued innovation in this area.”
Some have speculated that the future king was more tight-lipped than he has been in the past as a result of the tensions between him and his son, Prince William, for not respecting rules that he has put in place to protect the Cambridge children’s privacy and childhood.
According to reporter Emily Andrews, the Duke of Cambridge takes a dim view of his children being used as props and has not been pleased with his father using them to “burnish his own image” in the past.
Prince Charles has said it is important to create a bond with grandchildren while they are young, but Prince William clearly does not want this to be at the expense of his children’s privacy.
One particular occasion during which Charles released a photo of himself with private framed photographs in the background of his grandchildren saw William express his “displeasure” to his father.
The writer said that Prince William was furious when Prince Charles broke his unwritten rule about his three children, and he let him have it.
She explained: “William felt piqued that his father sometimes ‘used’ his son’s popularity, and that of his wife and three young children, to burnish his own image. William was particularly sensitive as he himself is reluctant to use his children as ‘props.'”
The royal expert also revealed that Prince William was beyond angry when Prince Charles’s aides revealed to the media that Highgrove’s gardens were converted into a “toddler’s paradise” for Prince George.
The tension with William might push Prince Charles to be more discreet when it comes to newborn Lilibet.
