Royal baby is named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
London: Ending days of speculation, the newborn Princess of Cambridge was on Monday named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana by Prince William and his wife Kate.
The princess, who was born on Saturday will be known as Princess Charlotte. She is fourth in line to the throne, after her grandfather Charles, her father William, and her older brother George.
In a statement, Kensington Palace said: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.
“The baby will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.”
Charlotte is likely to be a tribute to William’s father, the Prince of Wales, as it is the feminine form of the name Charles. The middle names of the princess recognise her great grandmother the Queen – Elizabeth II – and her grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales.
The name is in line with the public opinion and bookies’ favourite. Bookies had predicted Charlotte and Alice as their favourite names for the princess, followed by Olivia, Victoria and Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, gun salutes in London marked the birth of the baby. Volleys fired by elite British soldiers in Hyde Park and the Tower of London honour the arrival of new royal babies and were last fired when Prince George was born in July 2013.
The gun salute involved soldiers from The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery riding out in a procession from near Buckingham Palace to sound 41 shots in Hyde Park.
They were accompanied by the Royal Artillery Band and their 71 horses pulling six World War One-era Ordnance Quick Fire 13-pounder field guns.
Among the first visitors to see the new princess at Kensington Palace on Sunday were her grandfather Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Kate’s
parents – the Middletons. Prince Charles and Camilla spent more than an hour with their new granddaughter.
Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, and sister Pippa also spent some time with the princess. Queen Elizabeth II is to meet her newest great granddaughter and fourth in line to the throne by the end of this week.
The new parents remain at their Kensington Palace home and will be travelling to their country home, Anmer Hall, on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk this week.
