Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reveal new baby's name
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have revealed their baby’s name.
Their third child will be called Louis Arthur Charles, according to Kensington Palace’s official Twitter account.
The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.
Prince Louis is now fifth in line to the throne, which means Prince Harry has been bumped down to sixth place.
He was born on April 23 at 11.01am local time at St Mary’s Hospital in London after a five-hour labour.
Speculation about his name began mounting just hours after his birth was announced.
Bookmakers had the name Arthur as the top favourite, with Albert, James, Philip, Thomas and Edward also on the list.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles.
The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge. pic.twitter.com/4DUwsLv5JQ
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 27, 2018
The royal couple kept everyone waiting four days for an official announcement.
The name Louis runs in the family, as it is Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George’s middle name.
The choice may also be in tribute to Louis Mountbatten, who shared a strong bond with the Prince of Wales throughout his childhood.
Louis is currently the 71st most popular name for a baby boy in England and Wales, ranking just behind the likes of Teddy, Harvey, Hugo and Reggie.
Other famous men with the moniker include the likes of Louis Theroux, Louis Armstrong, Louis Tomlinson and Louis Walsh.
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The couple’s choice is likely to increase the name’s popularity due to the undeniable royal effect.
Arthur, on the other hand – a clear frontrunner in the betting stakes – is sure to make royal punters rub their hands with glee, as the royal couple decided on it as the middle name for their newborn.
It’s not surprising that the couple opted for a traditional name, as George and Charlotte also have popular but royally-approved monikers.
Other royals with the name Louis
Louis XIV (known as Louis the Great or the Sun King) reigned as King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715.
Another royal Louis is Louis VIII. Known as ‘the Lion’, he was King of France from 1223 to 1226. He also claimed the title King of England from 1216 to 1217.
What do the experts think?
“William and Kate have chosen a timeless and traditional name to complement their older children’s name choices,” says SJ Strum, a baby name expert from ChannelMum.
“The dutiful couple are mindful of their royal responsibilities and have selected a name which works on three levels – as a suitably grand Royal name, on the international stage as the new Prince will be known across the globe, and also a moniker which is already popular in playgrounds and matches their desire to give their children as ‘normal’ a childhood as possible.”
Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s names
Prince George’s name pays tribute to his grandfather, Prince Charles, whose middle name is George.
While, Princess Charlotte’s middle names, Elizabeth and Diana, pay reference to her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and her late grandmother, Princess Diana.
Why did it take so long for the couple to announce the news?
Like every parent, it is likely that they wished to tell family and friends before announcing the news to the world. This past week has also been packed with royal engagements and the announcement would have overshadowed Anzac Day.
For those hoping for a family portrait, sit tight, as the royal couple are sure to share a sweet snap in the near future.
As for the christening, it is traditional for a royal baby to be christened two to three months after the birth, meaning late June or July is most likely.
There has been no official statement on where the christening will be held.
