Kate Middleton and Prince William Announced the Name of Their New Baby Boy
After almost a week of anticipation, we finally know the name of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s third child!
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles,” Kensington Palace said in a statement Friday. “The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.”
The name—which is often more associated with kings of France than those in Britian—has special meaning to the royal family.
According to People, Louis is most likely a tribute to Prince Philip, whose grandfather was Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg. The name also belongs to Prince William, whose full name is William Arthur Philip Louis. The magazine also reports that Louis also has sentimental meaning to William’s father, Prince Charles, whose beloved uncle and mentor, Earl Louis Mountbatten, was assassinated by the Irish Republican Army in 1979.
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There’s been, obviously, much speculation about what the future king and queen of England would name their son, with British oddsmakers picking Arthur and Albert as early favorites.
Kensington Palace announced Monday (April 23) the couple had welcomed a new baby boy to their family, which includes Prince George (4) and Princess Charlotte (2). “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs,” the Palace’s statement read on Twitter. “The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.”
Despite being born a boy, Louis won’t be next in line to throne after his older brother Prince George: that honor belongs to William and Kate’s middle child, Charlotte, the first princess who won’t be overtaken in the line by a younger brother thanks to the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013, states that succession is based fully on birth order—not the sex of the child. Before this was passed, male royals would jump ahead of older females in the succession line. But now, Princess Charlotte is four spots away from the throne, and baby Louis is fifth.
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It had been a whirlwind 24 hours for Prince William and Middleton before little Louis arrived: The Palace announced at around 3:30 A.M. ET Middleton was in labor, and the couple had traveled by car to St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington London. A little bit over five hours later, Kensington Palace confirmed Middleton had given birth.
Right before, Kensington Palace shared a photo of all the news reporters outside the hospital waiting for a first glimpse of the new royal. “The world’s media are gathered outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital ahead of the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s third child,” the Palace wrote.
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“The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news,” Kensington Palace also tweeted.
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Middleton and Prince William welcoming baby number three is coming just before Meghan Markle and Prince Harry tie the knot on May 19 at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
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