Anton du Beke tells Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to ‘grow up’ and blasts baby name Lilibet as ‘nauseating’
STRICTLY star Anton Du Beke has ordered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to “grow up”.
He’s also blasted their baby girl Lilibet’s name as “nauseating” on TV.
The Sussexes' decision to name their baby girl Lilibet in honour of the Queen continues to raise eyebrows, after the pair publicly slammed the monarchy for months after quitting the Royal Family.
Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor shares the nickname Prince Philip called the Queen for more than 70 years — while the middle name is a tribute to Harry’s mum.
But news of their baby's name annoyed Anton Du Beke, 54 who told Steph McGovern, 39, on Channel 4 show Steph's Packed Lunch, that it was "nauseating".
A thrilled Steph praised the Sussexes, saying: "Congratulations are in order for Harry and Meghan after the birth of their daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
"They named her in tribute to the Queen because of course Lilibet is the affectionate name that is often used by the family for the Queen and of course Harry's mum Princess Diana."
The presenter then asked: "What do we think of the name?"
An unimpressed Anton rolled his eyes and slated the infant's name as "nauseating".
The TV star added: "The right thing to say is that it's lovely, fabulous, delighted, well done.
"I find it nauseating and irritating what they've done."
"I don't know them but I just want to say to them, 'Grow up!' That's all I want to say to them because I find it irritating.
"I don't find it nice, bearing in my mind what's gone on."
However, Harry and Meghan’s choice to name their daughter Lilibet is seen as an attempt to repair relations with the Royal Family.
Royal author Phil Dampier said: “I suspect Harry and Meghan have realised they’ve overdone their criticism in recent months and the penny has dropped that they’ve caused deep hurt to Harry’s gran and other family members.”
Phil - who wrote Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in their own words - added: “They might be trying to undo some of the damage.”
But royal biographer Angela Levin slammed the sentimental move - suggesting it exploits "a very private nickname".
She told Good Morning Britain: "I don’t think it’s a good idea - I think it’s quite rude to Her Majesty Her Queen.
"It was a very private nickname from her husband who hasn’t been dead for very long.
"Prince Charles would never dream of calling his mother Lilibet."
Angela has also written in the that Lilibet could be a "band-aid baby - a sticking plaster in Royal form to return the family to some form of normality."
She also suggested that the new baby meant that Prince Harry's "attitude to life could change, and he might even recover from his 'generic pain'" decades after the death of his beloved mum, Diana.
The expert added that Lilibet might also help him "get over the guilt he still feels over when Diana rang him when he was on holiday at Balmoral with his father the day before she died, and he cut short the conversation… He has said he can never forgive himself for it."
She said she believed that Harry was "unhappier than we think, and remains haunted by a catalogue of grievances".
Plus, his "outpouring" of "pain and frustration" and "brutal verbal attacks" have helped him to "cope with just how much he still misses his mother, and how much underneath it all he aches to get his family back," she added.
Angela also suggested that Lilibet could be christened in the UK in a bid to mend the rift.
The Duchess of Sussex, 39, gave birth at 11.40am local time last Friday, June 4, at a hospital ten minutes’ drive from their £11million mansion in Montecito, California.
The baby weighed in at 7lbs 1oz.
In a statement the royal couple, who also have a two-year-old son Archie, said: “On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili.
“She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe.
“Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.”
A spokesman said mum and baby were “healthy and well”.
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Piers Morgan, meanwhile, has also lashed out at Lilibet's name as "ironic" after the couple had publicly "trashed the royals".
On Australia's Today programme, when asked for his opinion on the newest royal's name, he replied: "You have this couple who have been trashing the Royal Family and the monarchy for the last few weeks and they have named the baby after the Queen.
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"Maybe it's their way of 'reaching out', as the Americans say, to the royals and an end to this on-running feud."
His comments come after the former Good Morning Britain host said he was "declining to comment" on Meghan and Harry's baby news as he "respects their constant pleas for privacy".