Harry and Meghan's baby is here!

Prince Harry has threatened the BBC with legal action after it reported that he and Meghan Markle did not ask the Queen for permission to name their daughter Lilibet - as an extraordinary three-way briefing war broke out between the Sussexes, the Palace and the corporation.

Senior Buckingham Palace sources told BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond this morning that the Queen was 'never asked' her opinion on the couple's decision to name their new baby after her childhood nickname.

However, Harry hit back within 90 minutes of the BBC's report being published through a statement from his and Meghan's close friend Omid Scobie that insisted the Queen was the first person the Duke called after the birth of his daughter.

It was initially reported the Queen had been consulted by the couple on the name before it was announced
Palace insiders claimed this morning Queen was not consulted - only for Omid Scobie to slap down the claims

Mr Scobie, who wrote the bombshell Finding Freedom biography of the couple, also claimed the Sussexes would not have used the name Lilibet unless the Queen had supported the move.

Harry, who together with wife Meghan announced they were expecting a girl during their interview with Oprah in March, took things a step further mere hours after his rebuttal of the report, threatening the BBC with legal action through law firm Schillings.

Notice of the legal action was followed by a carefully-worded statement that raised more questions than answers over whether the Queen did give permission or if the couple simply informed her of their intentions in a fait accompli.
The statement insisted that the BBC report was wholly wrong and read: 'The Duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement, in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called.

'During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.'

The BBC then amended its report though the article still says that the Queen was not asked about the name of the baby. Mr Dymond's tweets citing a Buckingham Palace source also still remain up.

The BBC report on the Palace's position and Harry's fiery reaction implies both parties believe they are telling the truth on the issue. It suggests that Harry and Meghan could have informed the Queen of Lilibet's name before taking Her Majesty's non-denial as consent.

On the other hand, the Palace briefings appear to hint that the Queen felt she was presented with the couple's decision and asked to rubber stamp it, rather than give permission.

The explosive row is the latest chapter of Harry's ongoing feud with the broadcaster after he attacked the BBC following the inquiry into Martin Bashir's interview with his mother Princess Diana. Harry blasted the 1995 BBC Panorama interview and said his mother 'lost her life because of this'.

Despite Harry's strong condemnation of the BBC report about Lilibet today, Buckingham Palace refused to comment on whether the story was true when approached by MailOnline.