Prince Louis is already a bit of a royal superstar, known for his enjoyment of big events including the Platinum Jubilee where he all but stole the show. However, even before then, he was pulling surprises. When his parents announced they were naming their third child Louis, it was unexpected. While it was well used as a middle name by the House of Windsor and the House of Hanover, it hadn’t been bestowed as a given name for quite some time. In fact, Prince Louis has brought the name closer to the throne than it has been in centuries. Here’s a look at Louis’ namesakes.
The Great Uncle
Until now, the name Louis is perhaps most associated in royal terms with the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma. Uncle to the Duke of Edinburgh and great uncle to King Charles III, he was an inspiration to both men and a mentor to Charles. He was killed in an IRA bomb attack off the coast of County Sligo in August 1979 and his death left the Royal Family devastated.
He had been born Prince Louis of Battenberg on June 25th 1900 at Frogmore House, Windsor. His father was Prince Louis of Battenberg and his mother was Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, daughter of Princess Alice and Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. This Prince Louis lost his royal title in 1917, becoming Lord Louis Mountbatten. He had a distinguished military career and served as the last Viceroy of India. In 1947, he was made Earl Mountbatten of Burma.
Middle Names
His influence on the Royal Family can be seen in the use of his name for several royal princes. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh named their youngest son Edward Antony Richard Louis as a nod to Philip’s beloved uncle. King Charles made sure to give the name to his first son, born three years after Earl Mountbatten’s death. The Prince of Wales’ full name is William Arthur Philip Louis. And William and Catherine have also used Louis as a middle name – their first son is Prince George Alexander Louis.
Louis or Ludwig?
However, in other forms, the name is found in the royal family tree a little earlier on. Louis is the French version of a name found in English as Lewis and in German as Ludwig and it’s in that latter version that we first find it among the kings of Great Britain.
The House of Hanover, invited to rule when Queen Anne died without an heir in 1714, was rather fond of the name Ludwig. The man who became King George I of Great Britain (ruled 1714 – 1727) was christened Georg Ludwig. His own son, the future George II (ruled 1727 – 1760), gave the name to his first born child who was Frederick Lewis or Louis or Ludwig, depending on which source you happen to be reading at the time. And plenty of Hanoverians used the female version for daughters with both Louise and Louisa cropping up in royal baby names throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
The French Connection
All those different versions of the name have one meaning – renowned warrior. So it’s perhaps not surprising that Louis and Ludwig were popular picks among the medieval kings and nobles who ruled society across Europe.
It ultimately ended up most associated with the royal houses of France. Back in the 9th century, Louis, King of the Franks put his royal stamp on the name and began a tradition that would see eighteen French monarchs called Louis.
Given that England and France spent a large chunk of the Middle Ages at war, it’s perhaps not surprising that the name was never adopted into royal lines here. In 1216, the then dauphin of France declared himself Louis I of England as the reign of King John descended into chaos. However, after John’s death and some serious negotiations, he rescinded his claim and went on to become King Louis VIII of France in 1223.
A new royal Louis
The name got another new royal chapter with the arrival of Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge, on April 23rd 2018 and, since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III, fourth in line to the throne. That brings the name the closest it’s been to the crown since that 13th century show of strength. Little Louis probably won’t ever be king but his unusual first name has plenty of regal credentials as well as being a tribute to a relation he never met but who had so much influence on the family he now belongs to.
