Royal baby named George Alexander Louis

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced yesterday that they named their son George Alexander Louis.

In a statement, Kensington Palace said: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son George Alexander Louis. The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.”

The baby, who is third in line to the throne, was born on Monday at 16:24 BST, weighing 8lbs 6oz.

The Queen met her great-grandchild for the first time on Wednesday at Kensington Palace, and on that occasion was told of Prince George’s name. 

According to many bookmakers George was an all-time favourite in case of a male heir to the throne, and the Duke and Duchess had been expected to choose a traditional name for their son.

Royal infants have historical names passed down though generations. 

HRH Prince of Cambridge takes his first name from the Queen’s father, King George VI, although his birth name was Albert and he was known as Bertie to his family.

Alexander, the Prince’s first middle name, is the masculine form of the Queen’s middle name and is one that three medieval Scottish kings had, while Louis, his final name, is not only Prince William’s fourth name but clearly seems to be a tribute to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh’s uncle and the last British Viceroy of India, who was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.

Genealogist and author of Blood Royal, Charles Mosley, confirmed to the BBC that he had always believed the baby would be named George, saying: “It was the name of the sovereigns under whom this country became a world player – in the 19^th century, defeating Napoleon, and in the 20^th century, winning two world wars.”

“Louis is a nod in the direction of the Mountbatten element in the royal family. And indeed the surname of the royal family is still Mountbatten. His (Prince George’s) birth certificate and marriage certificate will say Mountbatten-Windsor,” he added.

As well as its royal connotations, St George was an early Christian martyr and is the patron saint of England. 

The young family headed on Wednesday to see Kate’s parents in their village near London. A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “This is now a private and quiet time for them to get to know their son.”

Annalisa Ratti