The real reason for Prince Louis’ special name revealed
When Prince Louis was born in April 2018, the world had to wait a handful of days to find out what name William and Kate had chosen to bestow upon their newborn son.
Eventually, however, the news was broken across the world through a statement from the Royal family - and as typical in the age of social media, through a tweet.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles,” it was announced.
“The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.”
The name had come as quite the surprise in the betting world, with many having put money on the young prince being called Arthur. But it was ultimately Louis - a name originating from France and Germany that means ‘famous warrior’ or ‘famous in battle’ - that reigned supreme.
As for why the royal couple had not immediately informed the world that he would be Louis, the reason was reportedly quite simple: they just hadn’t had an easy time agreeing.
“They didn’t know if they were having a boy or a girl,” a source said of the delay. “When he arrived they started thinking through things. They were not keeping it to themselves. They were deciding still.”
It was a move that reflected that of William’s own parents, as the late Princess Diana and now-King Charles had differing opinions - she reportedly preferred the likes of Sebastian and Oliver, while he had his hopes pinned on Albert.
Louis is a name that the young royal actually shares with his father - it’s William’s middle name. The latter’s name was chosen by Charles, who was paying tribute to the late Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Mountbatten, as well as being Charles’ friend and mentor, was Queen Victoria’s great-grandson, and was related to both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
His name was one that had been passed down throughout the family, with his father also named Louis, and even Prince Philip’s grandfather, Prince Louis of Battenberg.
Despite its historical and sentimental significance for the family, it has been said that William and Kate just liked it - a theory further supported by their decision to make Louis one of their eldest son’s middle names, too.
As historian Dr Judith Rowbotham explained at the time, while Louis had been something of a surprising choice, it had also been a safe one, and a tribute as well as “an acknowledgement of a wider heritage.”
The significance of this was not lost on fans of the royal family, who - at the time - were also celebrating the once-in-a-century record that the newborn Louis had broken upon entering the world.
For Louis, at his 8lb 7oz (~3.83kg) weight, had been the heaviest royal baby boy born in 100 years. His brother George had measured in at three ounces less at the time of his birth.
Louis did not, however, secure the title of ‘heaviest royal baby ever’. That bragging right instead belongs to Savannah Phillips, who was 8lb 8oz (~8.86kg) upon her birth in 2010.
Images: Getty