We know the little tyke was born at 11:01, that he weighed 3.82kg and that he’ll fifth in line to the throne. But, what we didn’t know was his name … until now.
The last few months have been good to the English royal family. Prince Harry set a date for his wedding to former Suits actress Meghan Markle, Queen Elizabeth recently celebrated her 92nd birthday, and on April 23 Britain’s favourite royal couple announced the birth of their third child, a son, to the usual national jubilation.
Kensington Palace announced on Twitter that the royal baby’s name is, drumroll please, HRH Louis Arthur Charles.
Now that you know his official moniker, here are six things you may not have known about Britain’s littlest royal:
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. pic.twitter.com/4DUwsLv5JQ
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 27, 2018
1. AN ‘UNOFFICIAL’ TOWN CRIER ANNOUNCED HIS BIRTH
In keeping with a tradition that harks back to medieval times, a town crier has announced the birth of all three members of Kate and William’s royal progeny to the public – but nobody’s employed him to do so.
According to The Sun, an elderly man named Tony Appleton arrives on the scene – decked out in full ‘town crier’ regalia – to declare the news. But, in a peculiar turn of events, Appleton does this as a hobby and doesn’t seem to be acting in any official capacity.
He was present outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London, on April 23 when the new prince was born.
2. HE WON’T HAVE A LAST NAME ON HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE
The Mountbatten-Windsor patronymic is hardly ever used by heirs to the throne, as most nobles are known either by their lengthy formal titles, or, in the instance of those nearest to the throne, by the honorific ‘Prince’ or ‘Princess’.
Town and Country reported that, according to historian Marlene Eilers Koenig, the baby’s birth certificate is likely to read “HRH Prince,” followed by the child’s three first names, as in the cases of ‘George Alexander Louis’ and ‘Charlotte Elizabeth Diana’.
3. THE QUEEN TECHNICALLY HAD VETO POWER
Historically, reigning monarchs have had the power to overrule royal infants’ prospective names. Apparently, the Queen’s sister Margaret was almost called Anne, but her grandfather George VI objected.