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The Meaning Behind Prince George’s Name

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The announcement of the name of our new heir sparked, within moments, speculation about the reason why the three given names were chosen.

His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge bears a traditional title but just why were these names chosen? George has been a popular name amongst Kings in British history, from George I in the eighteenth century, the son of Sophia of Hanover to George V in the early twentieth century; the first George of the House of Windsor. It is likely that The Duke and Duchess decided upon this name in memory of the previous monarchs but particularly after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved father George VI who died in 1952.

Interestingly, there have been three Scottish Kings bearing the name of Alexander, all from the medieval period; Alexander I, Alexander II and Alexander III.

Louis was most likely chosen in memory of Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh’s uncle. Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India before Indian Independence was granted in 1947. The Duke of Edinburgh and Lord Mountbatten were believed to be incredibly close and the country was aghast upon receiving the news of his assassination in 1979 by the IRA. The Duke of Cambridge’s name also contains the name Louis.

Despite some critics disapproving of the decision to keep with tradition, it is heartening to consider the motives behind the given name and is important to consider the possibility that the young Prince will eventually come to symbolise an era and generation when he takes the throne as King.

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