A young Princess Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace with her husband to be, Lieut Philip Mountbatten, and her sister, Princess Margaret. PA Images
A young Princess Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace with her husband to be, Lieut Philip Mountbatten, and her sister, Princess Margaret. PA Images
A young Princess Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace with her husband to be, Lieut Philip Mountbatten, and her sister, Princess Margaret. PA Images
A young Princess Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace with her husband to be, Lieut Philip Mountbatten, and her sister, Princess Margaret. PA Images

The story of Lilibet: what the Queen's family nickname means and how it stuck


Sophie Prideaux
  • English
  • Arabic

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has many titles around the world; Her Royal Highness, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. But to her nearest and dearest, she is simply Lilibet.

And it's this touching moniker that her grandson, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, chose for their new born daughter.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the birth of their daughter Lilibet (Lili) Diana Mountbatten-Windsor on Sunday, two days after her arrival on Friday. The little girl's middle name is a tribute to Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.

The tributes chosen for baby Lili's name have delighted royal fans around the world, especially the personal touch of using the queen's family nickname.

What is the story behind Lilibet?

Royal fans – or anyone who's watched Netflix's The Crown – will know that Lilibet was the queen's childhood nickname, but not many people will know why. It turns out the name stems from the queen herself. As a young girl, Elizabeth was not able to pronounce her name correctly, and adorably called herself Lilibet, an error that stuck.

The moniker was used by her father, King George VI, and her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, as well as her grandparents and younger sister, Princess Margaret. King George VI famously once famously said of his two girls: "Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy."

The Queen also used the name as a young girl, and records of many childhood letters sent to family members and loved ones show her sign off as "Lilibet".

A young Princess Elizabeth, second left, alongside Princess Margaret for the coronation of their father, King George VI of England. Corbis via Getty Images
A young Princess Elizabeth, second left, alongside Princess Margaret for the coronation of their father, King George VI of England. Corbis via Getty Images

Her husband, Prince Philip, who died in April, was also known to call his wife by the nickname, and, according to reports, the queen signed a note left on her husband's casket from "Lilibet".

He's thought to be the last person in her life to call her that, making the timing of baby Lilibet's arrival all the more touching.

Paying royal tributes

It is a common theme among royals to name children after family members, although Harry and Meghan’s choice to adopt a nickname over an official name is an added personal touch.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with their great grandchildren Prince George, Prince Louis, Savannah Phillips, Princess Charlotte, Isla Phillips, Lena Tindall and Mia Tindall. AFP / Kensington Palace
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with their great grandchildren Prince George, Prince Louis, Savannah Phillips, Princess Charlotte, Isla Phillips, Lena Tindall and Mia Tindall. AFP / Kensington Palace

Baby Lili shares a middle name with her cousin, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, who her father, Prince William, also named after his mother.

His eldest son, Prince George, who is third in line to the British throne, is named after his great-great grandfather, King George VI.

Princess Eugenie, who recently gave birth to her first child, August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, named him in tribute to his great-grandfather, Prince Philip.

Prince Harry's son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, 2, meanwhile, has a middle name paying tribute to his father.

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Al Ghaf Honey

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.

There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.

Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.

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The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.

 

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David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4