Queen Elizabeth Didn’t Like Princess Beatrice’s Original Name Because It Was “Too Yuppie”

Today in royal news you weren’t expecting: Way back when Princess Beatrice was born, there was actually quite a bit of drama surrounding her baby name…all thanks to Queen Elizabeth II, who, as we know, calls all the shots in the royal fam.

According to The Mirror, Beatrice’s parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, originally wanted Beatrice’s name to be Annabel. But the Queen was less than impressed with the name, writing it off as—wait for it—“too yuppie” for a member of the British royal fam. For those of you born after 1990, “yuppie” is a derogatory term for young urban professionals of the ’80s who were seen as obsessed with material signifiers of their wealth. The more ya know!

If Queen Elizabeth II’s critique of Beatrice’s original name seems harsh, know that it’s actually ~royal tradition~ for members of the royal family who are expecting a child to have an “informal chat” with the Queen about their name of choice so they can make 100 percent sure she’s happy with it. (And yes, this tradition still happens in the year of our lord 2021—see: Prince Harry asking Queen Elizabeth for permission to use her nickname Lilibet as the name of his and Meghan Markle’s daughter before Lili was born.)

The Queen historically hasn’t had issues with name choices, but when Andrew and Sarah approached her in 1988, the couple had to shift gears. It reportedly took “two weeks for the Yorks to formally announce [Beatrice’s] name because of the Queen’s concerns,” The Mirror’s report claimed. The Queen didn’t exactly leave Sarah and Andrew hanging though—she was the one to suggest the name Beatrice in the first place.

Therefore, Sarah and Andrew took the Queen’s advice and named their daughter Beatrice Elizabeth Mary, adding a tribute to the Queen as a middle name to show their appreciation. And the rest, as they say, is royal history!

You Might Also Like

• A Cleaning Expert Explains the Best Way to Clean Cloth Face Masks After You Wear Them — Good Housekeeping

• 35 Delicious Pantry Recipes That Use What's Already in Your Cabinets and Freezer — Good Housekeeping

• The Amish keep to themselves. And they’re hiding a horrifying secret. — Cosmopolitan