The Queen Reportedly Asked For This Princess' Name To Be Changed
The queen doesn't seem to be shy when it comes to sharing her opinion, that's for sure!
While it's unclear just how much say Queen Elizabeth has had in choosing names for her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren, there have been quite a few rumors surrounding whether or not she approved the name that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose for their newborn daughter. A report by BBC News claims that the queen was not asked about the name Lilibet Diana despite the name being a family nickname and thought to be extremely personal. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan have fired back against those claims, according to Vanity Fair.
Generally speaking, most royal family members receive traditional names that hold great meaning, according to People magazine. Many of these names, such as George, have been in the royal family for decades. However, there is one name in particular that may not have come to be if it wasn't for the queen's influence. Keep reading to find out which of the queen's descendants' names may have actually been changed because of the queen.
Princess Beatrice may have been named Annabel if not for the queen's input
When Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson told Queen Elizabeth the name that they had chosen for their baby girl, the queen apparently wasn't thrilled, according to The Sun. Evidently, Andrew and Sarah had chosen the name Annabel for their newborn, but the queen wasn't a fan. The reason that the queen didn't like the name Annabel? She thought it sounded too "yuppie," according to the outlet. The couple then came up with the name Victoria, but the queen reportedly didn't like that either. "While the royal couple deliberated over an acceptable selection, their daughter went unnamed for 11 days. In the end, it was the Queen herself who offered up Beatrice, during the royal family's get-together at her Scottish estate of Balmoral. Beatrice was eventually given the full name of Beatrice Elizabeth Mary, with her middle names being a nod to her grandmother and great-grandmother," The Sun reports.
Meanwhile, Beatrice is expecting her first child later this year, according to People magazine. The queen was said to be "delighted" with the news, though it's unclear whether or not the queen will be consulted about the name that Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, choose for their newborn. According to Express, Beatrice and Edoardo will choose a name from a "small pool" of royal names.
Prince William & Kate Middleton likely ran the names they chose for their children past the queen
Since Prince William is second in line to the British throne, the names that he and Kate Middleton had chosen for their children were more than likely run by Queen Elizabeth before they were made official. According to Express, the fact that William will become king after his father dies — and then Prince George after William dies — the names chosen for the Cambridge children must follow royal tradition. A royal expert told the outlet that the conversation about baby names with the queen is rather "informal," but it's presumed that she absolutely would voice any and all concerns.
"The Queen has the power to say what their title is. But in the case of names, it is more of an informal conversation. Per royal protocol, members of the Royal Family typically share the name they have chosen for their child with the queen before announcing it. Of course [the royal family] have such respect for the Queen that if she says 'I really don't like that name', they'd definitely take that into account," Kate Williams told Express.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis all received a stamp of approval. Whether or not these were the top names on William and Kate Middleton's list, well, we may never know.
The royal family tends to repeat traditional names
Queen Elizabeth has 11 great-grandchildren as of July 2021 (that number will be 12 when Princess Beatrice gives birth in the fall), all of whom have names with special meaning. As the Independent points out, if you take a look at names within the royal family, you will likely see quite a few repeats. However, "the further down the line of succession, the more likely you are to have a more unique or un-traditional name," history professor Carolyn Harris told the outlet.
This holds true for Princess Anne's daughter and her husband, Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall. Zara is 19th in line to the British throne, according to Page Six, so the name choices for her children are a bit less traditional. She and Mike named their son Lucas, which you won't find on the British family tree, according to People magazine. The couple honored Zara's grandfather, Prince Philip, however, by giving Lucas the middle name "Philip." Zara and Mike named their second daughter Lena Elizabeth Tindall; her first name appears to be the shortened version of "Helena," perhaps after Queen Victoria's fifth child, Princess Helena, while the child's middle name is a nod to the queen.