Princess Diana Said 'No Thank You' to These Two Alternative Name Suggestions for William and Harry
With the arrival of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s first child fast approaching, royal fans are eagerly awaiting to find out more about Baby Sussex — especially what the couple will name their baby.
Princess Diana revealed she was behind the names of both of her sons – Prince William and Prince Henry, who goes by his nickname, Harry – in Andrew Morton’s Diana: Her True Story.
“The alternative was Arthur and Albert,” the late royal revealed, adding her reaction to the other possibility. “No thank you.”
She added, “There weren’t fights over it. It was just a fait accompli.”
Both “A” names did make the cut for middle names, however. Her older son’s full name is William Arthur Philip Louis, while Harry’s is Henry Charles Albert David. (Coincidentally, Meghan’s first name is actually Rachel, but she goes by her middle name.)
If Meghan, 37, and Harry, 34, follow royal tradition, the world won’t know their son or daughter’s name as soon as he or she is born. Instead, the baby’s name will be formally announced a few days following the birth. However, the sex of the royal baby will likely be revealed along with the birth announcement.
The world waited four days after the birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s third child to learn the royal baby boy’s name: Louis Arthur Charles. Louis, which is also one of big brother Prince George’s middle names, carries great meaning to the royal parents: it is likely a tribute to Prince Philip, whose grandfather was Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg. The name is also special to William’s own father, Prince Charles, whose beloved great-uncle and mentor, Earl Louis Mountbatten, was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.
William and Kate announced Prince George’s and Princess Charlotte‘s names two days after their royal arrivals. And these reveals are fairly quick by royal standards: Princes William’s name wasn’t announced for a week and Prince Charles‘ for an entire month!
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U.K. bookies Ladbrokes are taking bets on the baby’s name – and many are banking on a nod to Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana. While Elizabeth, after the Queen, was the latest favorite with 6/1 odds, Diana takes the second spot on the list of girls’ names with 12/1 odds.
As for boys’ names, it’s a tight race between Albert, Arthur and Phillip.
Other names in the running include Alice, Alfred, Charles (for the baby’s grandfather!), Elizabeth, James, Mary, Alexander and Alexandria.
