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The wait to find out the newborn royal baby’s name is over – doting parents William and Kate have called their third child Louis Arthur Charles.
Born on Monday, St George’s Day, at 11.01am, the baby was delivered in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London.
A statement from Kensington Palace, released at 11am on Friday morning, read : “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles.
“The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.”
The newborn weighed in at 8lbs, 7oz and a radiant Kate, 36, alongside proud William showed off their bundle of joy on the steps of the exclusive maternity wing just seven hours after little Louis made it into the world.
The duke told reporters the couple were “very happy” and “delighted” but joked it would be “thrice the worry” now the couple has three children – Prince George, Prince Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The baby is fifth in line to the throne and the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s sixth great-grandchild.
William and Kate’s choice came as a surprise because the name is already one of Prince George’s middle names.
It pays tribute to the Prince of Wales’s great-uncle, Earl Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA.
Bookmakers had Arthur as the favourite for some time, with James and Philip also popular.
Alexander became a later front-runner after William remarked on the name at a church service, as did Albert as the wait for the baby’s name stretched on.
The middle name Charles is a tribute to the Duke’s father, the Prince of Wales. The duke and duchess will have informed the Queen before asking the Palace to announce their son’s name.
On Thursday evening at an event with Prince Harry, William revealed that the couple were still deciding, telling reporters who asked about the name: “I’m working on that.”
He also took a break from caring for the prince to carry out royal duties on Wednesday when he joined Harry and Meghan Markle at an Anzac Day service in London.
The duke told guests that Kate and the baby were “in good form, luckily”, and added: “Sleeping’s going reasonably well so far, so he’s behaving himself, which is good news.”
Royals traditionally like to keep the public guessing baby names – and this time around was no exception.
Shortly before the couple appeared on the steps outside the Lindo Wing for a first glimpse of their son, Prince William brought Prince George and Princess Charlotte to meet their new sibling .
Little Charlotte, who turns three on May 2, excitedly turned and waved to press on the day she made history thanks to her little brother’s arrival.
The tot is now the first female royal to retain her claim to the throne and not be bumped down the line by the arrival of a new male.
The change is thanks to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.
Kate also made historical reference in her choice of outfit, donning a red and white Jenny Packham dress in a subtle tribute to Princess Diana
(DailyMirror)
