The new royal baby is called Louis - here's why

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The new royal baby is called Louis - here's why

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louis

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Louis Arthur Charles in his mother's arms.

  • The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have called their third child Louis Arthur Charles - and royal experts say it's a nod to relatives, past and present.
  • One obvious link is with Prince Louis' grandfather, Prince Charles, while the name may also be a tribute to Louis Mountbatten, Prince Philip's uncle and mentor.
  • The baby is fifth in line to the throne, bumping Prince Harry into sixth place.


Prince William and Kate Middleton have called their third child Louis Arthur Charles - and it is likely to be a nod to the young Prince's relatives, past and present.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge revealed the name on Friday and it didn't take long for royal observers, including at The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian, to identify its lineage.

One obvious link is with Prince Louis' grandfather, Prince Charles, while the name may also be a tribute to Louis Mountbatten.

Mountbatten was Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip's uncle and mentor. He encouraged his nephew to marry Queen Elizabeth, and was considered an "honorary grandfather" by Prince Charles, according to the MailOnline. Mountbatten was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979.

Louis is also the middle name of both Prince William and his eldest son Prince George. Their full names are William Arthur Philip Louis and George Alexander Louis respectively.

Bookies' favourites for the new royal's name had included Alexander, Arthur, James, Philip, and Albert. Louis was 20/1 with some, meaning people could have made a healthy profit if they had bet on the name.

Louis is currently the 71st most popular name for a baby boy in England and Wales, according to Press Association journalist Ian Jones. It could well climb in the rankings in the same way Charlotte did after Princess Charlotte was named.

Kensington Palace announced the new Prince's name in a tweet on Friday. "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," it said.

Kate Middleton gave birth to the baby boy weighing 8lbs, 7oz, at 11.01 a.m. on Monday April at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London.

GettyImages 950378584

Getty/Chris Jackson

Louis Arthur Charles.

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