On Saturday 2 May, what has been known as the ‘Great Kate Wait’ was finally over when the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Of course, whilst welcoming the arrival of the birth of the newest Royal, there was the question of what HRH the Princess of Cambridge would be named.
From the very beginning of the Duchess’ pregnancy, betting agencies and other gambling forums had begun to offer odds on the baby’s names; it was widely speculated that William and Catherine would once again favour a traditional royal name as they had when naming Prince George. This time the bookies favoured the names for a little girl. The most popular name was Alice, with Charlotte as a close second.
This speculation came to an end on Monday 4th May when the Palace announced that the baby was to be christened Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge. All of these names are steeped in tradition, the most obvious of which is Diana, after William’s mother, the late Princess Diana of Wales. The name Elizabeth is one that the young Princess will share with both her mother and grandmother (Catherine Elizabeth and Elizabeth II); it is a name that is greatly favoured by the monarchy – event the current Queen’s mother’s name was Elizabeth. As for her first name, the last Princess Charlotte was the daughter of King George IV, upon whose death in 1817, the Duke of Kent was pressured to produce an heir for the throne (the future Queen Victoria).
There is no doubt that the naming process for new royals, especially ones in the direct line, are incredibly traditional and often of a lofty nature for such a small child. However, whilst many of us champion more modern names there is something very poetic and special about naming a royal child after their ancestors. The children may find the names to be a bit too traditional in comparison to many others, but their ancestry and history is so great that it is an honour to carry the names they are given.
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge and her relatives mostly have traditional names which, though quaint, may seem a little outdated. Perhaps tradition is the appeal of the British Monarchy. And, at the end of the day, every parent has the right to name their child, royal or not. Regardless of whether the baby name happens to be traditional, these names have significant personal meaning to the family; I say, go for it.
