The royal baby’s birth date meant the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and Prince William had the perfect opportunity to give their son an extra meaningful name – except they already used it on their eldest son.
You see, April 23 just so happens to be St George’s Day – the feast day for the patron saint of England and the protector of the royal family. His cross even makes up part of the Union Jack on the British flag.
Keen royal fans have pointed out that because of royals love of giving names with traditional ties, George would have been the perfect name for the couple’s third child.
Should have saved the name “George”. #RoyalBabyName
— Sockie on the Case (@SockieWhodunit) April 23, 2018
For obvious reasons it is a shame they named their first son George or todays birth could have been more apt #RoyalBabyName
— Neil Quigley (@NeilQuigley) April 23, 2018
Why don’t they call him George II ? #royalbabywatch
— James Walmsley (@walmsl1) April 23, 2018
But with that taken by his older brother, now four years old, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have to settle for something else, with Albert, James, Arthur, Philip, Fred, Thomas and Edward all top picks for betters. Jack is even up there thanks to Prince William’s slip of the tongue that basically gave away the sex of the baby earlier this month.
The little boy arrived at 11.01am and we might not learn his name for a few days, but we do know he will hold the title of Prince of Cambridge. He’s fifth in line to the throne, bumping out Prince Harry, but not his older sister Princess Charlotte, two, – who is now the first royal girl not to be superseded by her little brother.
The Prince's arrival was announced by Kensington Palace in a statement earlier.
"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs. The baby weighs 8 lbs 7oz [3.8kg]," it said.
Listen: Why Kate Middleton will never have to send a thank you note for her third child....
"The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.
"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well."
Top Comments
Shame the kid wasn't born on Valentine's day. Or Jan 9th, St Wulfstan's day. A few days earlier, and he could have been called Prince Alphege. Some really cracking Saint's names out there, get a bit of variation in there!
Look, as cool as it would have been to have a son born on St George's day named George, I think the royal family in general liked the nod to tradition and to the Queen's father's regnal name in particular, in having the future king named George.