Petite and feminine: why Kate Middleton and Prince William named their daughter Charlotte 02.05.2023, 20:25

The heir to the throne was born at 8:34 a.m. at St. Mary’s in Paddington. British subjects have been waiting impatiently for Kate and William to announce their daughter’s name. Just two days later, they received an answer: with the blessing of Queen Elizabeth II, the couple announced that their daughter would be Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana (Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana).

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. The child will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge,” Kensington Palace said in a statement eight years ago.

Many people liked the selection. Charlotte has been considered a favorite by the bookies for some time, along with other names including Alice. Among royals, it is customary to look for names in the past out of respect for the continuity of one of the world’s oldest institutions. Princess Charlotte’s full name was inspired by three significant figures in William’s life.

As it became known, the name Charlotte is a tribute to her grandfather, as it is the female version of the male name Charles. An incredibly popular name among royalty throughout history, it means “petite” and “feminine” or “single man” in French. The name has historical links to the royal family, dating back to Queen Charlotte, wife of George III in the eighteenth century. The name is also a tribute to Kate’s family heritage, as Charlotte is also the middle name of Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton.

Charlotte’s middle name was no doubt chosen in honor of her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth is also the middle name of Kate and her mother Carol. The name entered the Middleton family tree in honor of Princess Elizabeth Harrison’s great-grandmother, who died when Kate was nine years old. It was also the name of Queen Elizabeth’s mother and William’s great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Mother. Elizabeth is also the middle name of Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice and Princess Anne.

While many speculated that the baby would be named after his late grandmother, Princess Diana, William made it clear that his daughter would not be named Diana. “That would be a stone around her neck,” the Daily Mail quoted longtime friend Diana Spencer as saying.

Still, William paid tribute to his beloved mother and honored her memory by giving Charlotte the third name ‘Diana’. The popular beloved princess died in 1997 in a car accident. Diana gave birth to her two sons, William and Harry, at the hospital where Princess Charlotte was born. “Diana’s spirit lives on in her sons and her name now lives on in her granddaughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana,” Spencer’s closest friend Rose Monckton said on the princess’ birthday. In addition to their daughter, the Prince and Princess of Wales have two sons – 9-year-old Prince George and Prince Louis, who recently celebrated his fifth birthday.