Why does the baby have three names?
While it seems like a heavy moniker for an infant, it’s actually lighter than tradition would have it. Prince Charles has four names: Charles Philip Arthur George, although the Queen is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor. Her father, who began life as Albert and ended it as King George VI, had five names at birth.
Again, it doesn’t stray far from tradition. St. George, for one, is the patron saint of England (and Bulgaria, Rio de Janeiro, and Moscow and the Scout Movement). And as the BBC notes, the last 11 monarchs have been Elizabeth, George, Edward, George, Edward, Victoria, William, George, George, George and George – six Georges in all. “When it’s a future royal monarch, tradition and continuity plays a big role, which is why there are lots of Georges and Williams to underline the continuity of the house of Windsor and prior to that, the royal dynasty,” Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, told the BBC.
Why Alexander and why Louis?
This baby’s name resonates with the Windsor family history. Alexandra, the female version of Alexander, is one of the queen’s middle names, and was also the name of the queen consort of King Edward VII at the start of the last century. Louis is one of William’s middle names (he’s William Arthur Philip Louis), and was the name of Prince Charles’s great-uncle Louis Mountbatten, who was assassinated by Irish Republican Army guerrillas in 1979. Choosing that name for the baby recognizes the close relationship between Charles and the man who was known affectionately in the family as “Uncle Dickie.”
Will he be called King George?
Not necessarily, although if the little prince one day does become king, he might opt for the continuity implied in George. King George VI was actually christened Albert and known as Bertie. Other monarchs have taken other names on ascension to the throne. Prince Charles was once reported to be thinking of taking the name King George VII, should he ascend to the throne, but he has denied publicly he’s ever discussed it.Report Typo/Error