Lilibet Diana is not the first royal baby to share a name and she won't be the last

As with anything Harry and Meghan do, when they named their newborn daughter Lilibet Diana as a tribute to the Queen and Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, it lit up the media and royal twitter with the fury of a thousand suns. The Sussex's are now lawyering up. I've even waded into the controversy by firing up my blog again! 

Lilibet is a name from the Queen's childhood, used by parents, late-husband, cousins, and close friends. Stories abound around the origin of the name. Her parents or grandparents gave it to her. Princess Margaret 'bestowed' it on her older sister because she could not pronounce it. In fact the nickname has a simpler origin, the Queen gave it to herself at 2 1/2 years old because she could not pronounce her own name. If she had known the nickname would set off a controversy 95 years later, would she have pronounced something different?  Who knows the mind of a 2 1/2 year old. 

Choosing the name for a royal baby can be fraught with complexities we mere mortals can only imagine. There's the fury of royal twitter, and potential global disapproval to contend with. In the oft chance the baby becomes monarch, a suitable name is required. No Apple, Dylan, North, Chicago or Dream, please. Instead, we have names imbrued with royal history that sound heavy, stale and old fashioned. The Queen herself was named after her mother. In 1926, her father, the Duke of York (later King George VI), wrote to his own father, King George V, hoping 'there won't be a muddle over two Elizabeths in the family'. Everyone seems to have survived until now. 

Because family tree names get recycled, sometimes royals share them. In some cases, whether they like it or not. In Queen Victoria's day, she insisted that her female descendants bear the name Victoria and male line descendants, Albert. Although Albert is still around, the name Victoria is infrequently used. It did not come back into rotation until the 1966 birth of Princess Alexandra's daughter, Marina Victoria Alexandra Ogilvy. The next appearance was in 1990, with the birth of Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena. In its place we have Elizabeth. Apparently you can never have enough Elizabeths in the family!

Lilibet Diana is not the first royal baby to share a name with another family member. And she won't be the last. Here are some examples of royal children, including siblings, who have shared names without causing any controversy or lawsuits whatsoever.

Alexander

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge

Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard, Earl of Ulster

Prince Richard Alexander Walter George, Duke of Gloucester

James Alexander Philip Theo, Viscount Severn

Alexander Charles Ogilvy, son of James Ogilvy

Christian Alexander Mowatt, son of Marina Ogilvy

Edward

Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex

Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York

Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, Duke of Kent

Lord Nicholas Charles Edward Jonathan Windsor


Elizabeth

Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise, Princess Royal

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge

Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York

Zara Anne Elizabeth Tindall

Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor

Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto

Lady Davina Elizabeth Alice Benedikte Lewis

Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong Jones

Lena Elizabeth Tindall

James

James Alexander Philip Theo, Viscount Severn

James Robert Bruce Ogilvy

Nicholas

Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, Duke of Kent

Lord Nicholas Charles Edward Jonathan Windsor

George Philip Nicholas, Earl of St Andrews

Charles

Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales

Prince Henry Charles Albert David, Duke of Sussex

Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge

David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon

Charles Patrick Inigo Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley

Lord Nicholas Charles Edward Jonathan Windsor

Philip

Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge

James Alexander Philip Theo, Viscount Severn

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank

Lucas Philip Tindall

George

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge

Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales

George Philip Nicholas, Earl of St Andrews

Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, Duke of Kent

© Marilyn Braun 2021

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Royal Christening: Prince Louis of Cambridge

Yesterday the public finally got a glimpse of the newest addition to the Cambridge family. Prince Louis Arthur Charles was born on April 23rd at St. Mary's Hospital Paddington and has not been seen since his parents left hospital with him on the day he was born. His older siblings, George and Charlotte attended his christening and so we got the chance to see for the Cambridge's as a family of five for the first time.

Embed from Getty Images

Prince Louis, at eleven weeks old slept peacefully in his mother's arms, unfazed by the special occasion. One of the few times he will have a good excuse for sleeping through a royal event. Like his older brother, Prince George, his christening took place in the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace. Their sister Princess Charlotte was christened in St. Mary Magdalene, Sandringham. A location with special meaning for her father as it was the same church her grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales was christened in 1961.

The Chapel Royal has seen many special royal events. Most recently, Meghan Markle (now Duchess of Sussex) was baptized and confirmed into the Church of England prior to her wedding. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge was confirmed there in 2011.

It has seen its share of weddings, including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840. Their eldest daughter, Victoria, the Princess Royal married Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia (Later Emperor Friedrich III) in 1858.  Victoria and Albert's grandson, Prince George, Duke of York married Princess May of Teck in 1893. They would go on to become King George V and Queen Mary.

This location also has special meaning for Prince William as it is where his mother's coffin rested prior to her funeral in 1997.

© Marilyn Braun 2018

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Royal name sharing strikes again: Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge

By Allan Warren from Wikimedia Commons

The new prince of Cambridge finally has a name!

 Prince Louis Arthur Charles and he will be formally known as HRH Prince Louis of Cambridge. Unlike Arthur, Louis was not a forerunner for baby names and it took royal watchers by surprise. Myself included.

Louis is a French name, meaning Famous Warrior. It was far more popular in the French royal family than the British one. Indeed, eighteen kings of France have borne the name. Not so for British ones. It is likely the baby was given the name in honour of Lord Louis, 1st Earl of Mountbatten, a formative figure in Prince Charles' life. He was assassinated by the IRA in 1979.

However, the name is still in the royal family. So far, the only member to have it as a first name is Louis Arthur Nicholas Felix, the youngest son of Lord Nicholas Windsor. Otherwise it is usually used as a middle name. It is shared by the following people:

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge

Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex

Lord Frederick Michael George David Louis of Kent, the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent

Albert Louis Philip Edward Windsor, older son of Lord Nicholas Windsor

It is also used for females, mainly as a middle name. Only one member of the family holds it as a first name: Lady Louise Windsor, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

By Arnaud Bouissou [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

The other names for Prince Louis are Arthur and Charles. Arthur means noble and courageous and it is more frequently included as a middle name. The name is shared with his father and grandfather and a notable Arthur was the Duke of Connaught, favourite son of Queen Victoria.

As with Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, William and Catherine are paying tribute to a grandparent, Charles means 'free-man' or 'manly' and several members of the royal family have it as a middle name.


© Marilyn Braun 2018

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

How to choose a royal baby name for the new Prince of Cambridge

Choosing the name for a royal baby can be fraught with complexities we mere mortals can only imagine. In the oft chance the baby becomes monarch, a suitable name is required. No Apple, Dylan, North, Chicago or Dream, please. Instead, we have names imbrued with royal history that sound heavy, stale and old fashioned.

Because family tree names get recycled, sometimes royals are required to share them. In some cases, whether they like it or not. In Queen Victoria's day, she insisted that her female descendants bear the name Victoria and male line descendants, Albert. Although Albert is still around, the name Victoria is infrequently used. In its place, we have Elizabeth. Apparently you can never have enough Elizabeths in the family!

A forerunner for the new prince of Cambridge's name is Alexander. A nice and solid name, except for the fact that it has been used before. Should this cross the name off the list? Not so fast! Here are just a few of the royals who share Alexander and other names. In some cases, they share more than one.

Alexander

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge

Alexander Patrick Gregers Richard, Earl of Ulster

Prince Richard Alexander Walter George, Duke of Gloucester

James Alexander Philip Theo, Viscount Severn


Edward

Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex

Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York

Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, Duke of Kent

Lord Nicholas Charles Edward Jonathan Windsor


Elizabeth

Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise, Princess Royal

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge

Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary of York

Zara Anne Elizabeth Tindall

Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Windsor

Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto

Lady Davina Elizabeth Alice Benedikte Lewis

Lady Margarita Elizabeth Rose Alleyne Armstrong Jones

James

James Alexander Philip Theo, Viscount Severn

James Ogilvy

Nicholas

Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, Duke of Kent

Lord Nicholas Charles Edward Jonathan Windsor

George Philip Nicholas, Earl of St Andrews

Charles

Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales

Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales

David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon

Charles Patrick Inigo Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley

Lord Nicholas Charles Edward Jonathan Windsor

Philip

Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, Duke of Cambridge

James Alexander Philip Theo, Viscount Severn

George

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge

Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales

George Philip Nicholas, Earl of St Andrews

Prince Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick, Duke of Kent

© Marilyn Braun 2018

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It's a Prince!

After an uneventful pregnancy and birth, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to her third child, a son. The as yet unnamed prince is fifth in line to the throne. Here he is, sound asleep, oblivious to his royal pedigree and the challenges he will face because of it.

Isn't he a cutie?

Embed from Getty Images


© Marilyn Braun 2018 Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

William and Catherine are expecting royal baby number 3!!

My take on it.

Congratulations to the Cambridge family.



via GIPHY

© Marilyn Braun 2017

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Royal Focus: Royal Godparents

When Princess Charlotte is christened on Sunday July 5th, she will traditionally be given five or six godparents/sponsors. Prince William has paid tribute to his mother in his daughter's name, the church where his own mother was baptized and chosen Mario Testino, Diana's favorite photographer, to take the official photographs. Because William is choosing to underline the Diana connection so heavily, I think it is likely that he will also choose someone from the Spencer side of his family as one of Charlotte's godparents,  potentially one of Diana's sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale or Lady Jane Fellowes. This would be a unique choice as neither William, Harry or Prince George have a Spencer family member included amongst their godparents. From the Spencer side, it is interesting to note that each of Diana's siblings have a royal godparent - except for her!


At one point godparents were drawn heavily from members of the immediate and extended royal family. Over time the emphasis has shifted to godparents with loyal connections rather than royal family ties. For instance, unlike his grandfather Prince Charles, who had five royal godparents,  Prince George only has one with a royal connection, Zara Phillips.


The Queen and Princess Margaret


The Queen's godparents were comprised entirely of family members and included her paternal grandparents King George V and Queen Mary, her maternal grandfather, the Earl of Strathmore, her aunts Princess Mary (later Princess Royal), Lady Elphinstone and her great-great uncle Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught.

Princess Elizabeth christening photograph
Royal Collection website

Princess Margaret's godparents were her uncle, Edward, Prince of Wales, Princess Ingrid of Sweden (later Queen of Denmark) and Princess Victoria, favorite sister of King George V. The maternal side of her family was represented by her mother's siblings, Lady Rose Levenson-Gower and the Honorable David Bowes-Lyon.


The Queen's children

Prince Charles' godparents were his grandfather, King George VI, his maternal great-grandmother, Queen Mary, his paternal great-grandmother, Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven, David Bowes-Lyon, Lady Brabourne, King Haakon of Norway and Prince George of Greece.

Prince Charles christening photograph
Royal Collection website

Princess Anne's godparents were, from the maternal side: her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and The Rev and Hon. Andrew Elphinstone (son of Lady Elphinstone, godmother of the Queen). Her paternal godparents were her grandmother, Princess Andrew of Greece, aunt Princess Margarita and great-uncle Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

Princess Anne christening photograph
Royal Collection website

Prince Andrew's godparents were his great-uncle Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, Princess Alexandra, Lord Elphinstone, the Earl of Euston and Mr. Harold Phillips.


Prince Edward's godparents were Prince Richard of Gloucester, the Duchess of Kent, his uncle by marriage, the Earl of Snowdon, Princess George of Hanover and Prince Louis of Hesse.


The Queen's grandchildren


Interesting to note that, unlike previous generations of royal children, none of her grandchildren or great-grandchildren have the Queen or Prince Philip as a godparent. Previous monarchs, Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, Queen Alexandra, King George V, Queen Mary, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth all served as godparents to various grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Peter Phillips godparents were his uncle, the Prince of Wales, the Rt. Rev Geoffrey Tiarks, Captain Hamish Lochare, Lady Cecil Cameron of Lochiel and Mrs. Timothy Holderness-Roddam.


Zara Phillips's godparents were her uncle the Duke of York, the Countess of Litchfield, Mrs. Jackie Steward, Colonel Andrew Parker-Bowles (first husband of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall), and Mr. Hugh Thomas.


Prince William's godparents were ex-King Constantine of Greece, Lord Romsey, Sir Laurens van der Post, Princess Alexandra, the Duchess of Westminster and Lady Susan Hussey.

Prince William christening photograph
Royal Collection website

Prince Harry's godparents were his uncle, the Duke of York, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, Lady Vestey, Mrs. William Bartholomew, Mr. Bryan Organ and Mr. Gerald Ward.


Princess Beatrice's godparents were Viscount Linley, Peter Palumbo, the Duchess of Roxburghe, Mrs. Harry Cotterell and Mrs John Greenall.


Princess Eugenie's godparents were James Ogilvy, Captain Alistair Ross, Mrs Ronald Ferguson, Mrs Patrick Dodd-Noble and Miss Louise Blacker.


Lady Louise Windsor's godparents include: Lady Sarah Chatto (nee Armstrong Jones), Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Lady Alexandra Etherington, Mrs Francesca Schwarzenbach and Mr Rupert Elliott.

James, Viscount Severn's godparents were Denise Poulton, Jeanye Irwin, Alastair Bruce, 5th Baron Aberdare, Duncan Bullivant, and Tom Hill.


The Queen's great-grandchildren



Despite their royal connections, the parents of Savannah and Isla Phillips and Mia Tindall have not announced the godparents for their own children.


However, we do know the ones for Prince George: Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Earl Grosvenor, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and Zara Tindall.

Prince George on his christening day with his parents and great-grandmother
British Monarchy Flickr

It will be interesting to see who William and Catherine choose to be godparents for Princess Charlotte. Will her parents honor a Spencer family member? We shall find out soon enough!

UPDATE: Princess Charlotte has five godparents (two fewer than George). They are: Miss Sophie Carter, Mr. James Meade, Mr. Alan Middleton, Mr. Thomas van Straubenzee, and from the Spencer side, The Hon. Laura Fellowes. I guessed Lady Jane but William and Kate chose her daughter instead!


© Marilyn Braun 2015

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.


Sources


The Royal Encyclopedia by Ronald Alllison and Sarah Riddell
Princess Margaret by Theo Aronson
Official site for the British Monarchy
British Monarchy Flickr
The Royal Collection website
Wikipedia

Royal Review: Very British Baby Knits by Susan Campbell

Like her mother, Princess Charlotte recently caused a stir with one of her outfits. When Princess Charlotte left hospital, she was wearing a handmade knitted bonnet by Irulea and her official photographs released later in the month featured the matching outfit by the same designer. While these items are lovely, the $260 price tag for the complete outfit might be a deterrent for even the most devoted royal baby watcher. Fortunately, there are some wonderfully royal themed alternatives.

Very British Baby Knits 30 Designs fit for a royal baby features five collections designed by Susan Campbell, a 'veteran in the design of baby clothes' . The 30 designs are comprised of familiar items such as hats, booties, cardigans and the like to keep your own baby snug and warm. The author has charmingly included a pattern to make your own knitted bunny with tiny matching outfits from each collection to go with them.

Each of the five collections is inspired by a royal residence and thoughtful consideration has gone into each set.


Anmer Hall mimics the Duchess of Cambridge's style, ''not fussy' and easy to wear but, at the same time modern and trendy.'


The Balmoral collection for baby girls is more romantic with 'tiny flowers and colors that blend in with the prolific Scottish heathers' on the estate.


The pure new wool Highgrove collection in cream and grey, 'remind us of natural, undyed fleece and the use of garter stich evokes thoughtful country textures.'


Sandringham collection features 'stripes that mimic the ploughed fields of Norfolk' and a 'splash of  gold to celebrate the yearly appearance of the wild golden asphodel which grows on the estate.'


Windsor was inspired by the castle and the  Order of the Garter: 'the twisted cable on the sweater symbolizes eternal chivalry and the smart royal blue cardigan speaks of sobriety and honor.'


Anmer Hall and Windsor patterns recommend using blue colors, while the pretty pink Balmoral set would be adorable on a baby girl. However, if the parents-to-be do not announce their baby's gender in advance, you cannot go wrong with the Highgrove and Sandringham collections featuring the more unisex colors of cream, beige, white and gold.


The book is very well organized, beautifully photographed and the patterns are easy to follow. A highly recommended addition to any devoted knitters pattern collection.


Click on the following link to purchase Very British Baby Knits: 30 Stylish Designs Fit for a Royal Baby.


© Marilyn Braun 2015


Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

St. Mary Magdalene, Sandringham - A few quick royal facts

It was announced today that Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, the newborn daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be christened at St. Mary Magdalene, the parish church on the Sandringham estate. The present church has a history dating back to the sixteenth century and over the years it has been rebuilt and restored. It has been the scene of various royal events since the estate was purchased in 1862 for the then Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) and his bride, Princess Alexandra of Denmark.


Although most articles focus on the christening of Princess Eugenie of York in 1990, many royal events have taken place on this site and it is regularly used by the royal family for worship when they are in residence at Sandringham.


Baptisms


Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George (future King George VI) on February 17, 1896

Princess Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary (Princess Mary) Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood on June 7, 1897

Prince Alexander Edward Christian Frederick, later King Olav of Norway on August 11, 1903

Her Princess Mary's youngest brother, Prince John Charles Francis on August 3, 1905

Diana Francis, Princess of Wales on August 30, 1961

Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena of York on December 23, 1990. She is the first royal baby to have a public christening.


Funerals and interments


Prince Alexander John of Wales, youngest son of the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, died within hours of his birth in 1871 and is buried in the grounds of the church.


King George VI died in the familiar surroundings of Sandringham and his coffin lay for two days in the church before his funeral at St. George's Chapel, Windsor.


King George VI's brother, Prince John's funeral took place on January 21, 1919. He is buried in the grounds of the church.


Several members of Diana, Princess of Wales' family are buried in the grounds of the church. These include her maternal grandfather, grandmother and older brother, John, who died within hours of his birth in January 1960.


© Marilyn Braun 2015


Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Perfect name for a Princess: Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge

Huzzah, William and Kate have finally named their newborn daughter! Introducing Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge. Charlotte and Elizabeth seemed to be obvious choices, but the addition of Diana was a hot topic of debate on Twitter. Each name has a royal and personal connection for the couple.

Princess Charlotte of Wales via Wikipedia

 

Charlotte means petite and feminine. Other notable Charlotte's include Charlotte Bronte and Charlotte Church. On a more personal level, Charlotte is the middle name of Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton. Within the royal family, the name has not been used as a first name in a long time. It has a rather tragic history. The last princess to bear the name, Princess Charlotte of Wales, granddaughter of King George III and her namesake, Queen Charlotte. Princess Charlotte died in childbirth in 1817. Although the King had fifteen children, she was the only legitimate grandchild and thus heiress presumptive to the throne. Her unexpected death set in motion a royal baby race that eventually resulted in the birth of Queen Victoria. Some have also pointed out that Charlotte is the feminine version of Charles and therefore a tribute to him. Personally I think this is a bit of a reach.

Joel Rouse/Min of Def/Wikipedia

Elizabeth has Hebrew origins. In the New Testament, Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. It is the name of numerous Saints, and means 'Consecrated to God'. Elizabeth also happens to be the middle name of Kate herself and of her mother, Carole Middleton. Aside from Victoria, the name Elizabeth is Royal with a capital R. Although it has a long history within the royal family, Elizabeth is currently synonymous with Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother as well as the present Queen Elizabeth II. A nice regal tribute to her great-grandmother in the year she surpasses Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch in British history in September.

Wikipedia/Public Domain By Nick Parfjonov

Diana means 'heavenly or divine'. It has mythological origins as the Goddess of the Hunt, Moon and Childbirth. As mentioned previously, Diana was a hot point of contention on Twitter. Would William and Kate burden their daughter with the name of a iconic grandmother she will never be able to live up to? My view is, choosing the name Diana was always up to William and Kate, regardless of pro/con public opinion. A beautiful name and a beautiful tribute to a mother gone but not forgotten.


 Welcome Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge!


© Marilyn Braun 2015


Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

How long will it take for the Princess of Cambridge's names to be announced?

Now that she has finally arrived, the question on many a royal watchers mind is what will William and Kate name their newborn daughter. People, especially those with money waged on the name, are impatient to know. How long will it take for the royal baby's name to be announced? The waits for royal names have varied.


Prince George's names were announced two days after he was born


Prince William's names announced one week after his birth


Prince Harry's names were announced 19 hours after his birth


Princess Beatrice's name was announced  two weeks later


Princess Eugenie's name was announced one week later


Possibly due to her premature arrival, Lady Louise Windsor's name was announced 19 days after her birth

Whereas her brother, James, Viscount Severn's name took four days.

Princess Anne's name was announced two weeks after her birth

Prince Charles' name was announced on December 14, 1948. Exactly one month after he was born.

Prince Andrew and Prince Edward's names were announced within a month of their births.

So Princess Cambridge's names could be released anywhere from tomorrow to a month! On the bright side, we can take heart in the fact that, unlike the Danish royal family, the British royals do not wait until the christening to provide the public with this information.


UPDATE: The baby has a name! Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. Like her brother it took two days for her name to be announced.

© Marilyn Braun 2015


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The Princess of Cambridge has arrived!

View image | gettyimages.com

What a day! Like many royal watchers, I woke up to the news this morning that the Duchess of Cambridge had given birth to a healthy baby girl. Although all babies are special, this newest member of the family has some points that set her apart.

• She is the first princess to be born since Princess Eugenie in 1990. Although Lady Louise Windsor (born 2003), is also a male line grandchild of the Queen, she does not bear the title and style of a royal princess.  
• She is the first princess of Cambridge to be born in 182 years. The last one was Princess Mary Adelaide. She was the mother of Queen Mary, consort to King George V.
• She is now the highest ranking royal to benefit by the succession changes made prior to her brother's birth. Should she have a younger brother, she will remain fourth in line.
• Her birth displaced Princess Beatrice as the highest female in the line of succession. 
• She is the first great-granddaughter of a sovereign born in the direct line since Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood in 1897.
• She is the highest ranking royal princess born to an heir to the throne since Princess Anne in 1950
• She is the Queen's fifth great-grandchild, joining her brother, Prince George, Mia Tindall, Savannah Phillips and Isla Phillips. Prince George is officially outnumbered! 
• She made her first public appearance the day of her birth. Possibly the fastest royal newborn appearance in recent history. 

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their daughter!

© Marilyn Braun 2015


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Royal Baby Watch: It's a SIGN...Literally!

Many people are making predictions about when the royal baby will arrive. Some base their predictions on gut feelings, their own schedules and even significant events. Surely the royal baby will arrive then, won't it? It must arrive by then. We've been waiting so...so...so...long for this baby, it's as if it has a bearing on our own lives.

To pass the time, some are resorting to begging online, some are jumping on the bandwagon to sell their wares. Some are even posting photos of delicious royal baby themed baked goods without sharing with anyone else.

We live in desperate times, my friends.

But today. Today is the dawn of a new day and I have seen the future. It is bright and yellow. A beacon of hope in times of uncertainty.  Some see a piece of paper, I see it as a sign.

LITERALLY.

Behold!

Image courtesy of @queenvicmirror

If I were to guess, I would say it is 18 x 12, possibly plastic. The paper, 11 x 14. But I could be wrong. Anyways. It is now here. Guiding us on a new date range for the royal baby's arrival and serving as a warning about parking.

Apparently the sign was always there. I just was not taking it seriously. Until Now.

In the absence of any other real news, I will no longer ignore it. Nor should you.

© Marilyn Braun 2015

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

LIVE Tweeting the Royal Birth

© Marilyn Braun 2015

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Contain your excitement, the Royal Baby is coming!

A royal baby is coming. And no one. I mean NO ONE. Is more excited than I am!


It is the middle of April and it could happen 'any day now.' In anticipation I am limbering up my hands and fingers in preparation for endlessly refreshing my Twitter feed for news that the new royal baby has finally arrived. My devices are fully charged. I have the latest Twitter updates. I am pumped and ready to go!


Oh yeah, royal baby. BRING IT!


'Meh, it's just the spare, right?'


Just the spare? JUST the spare? Are you kidding me?


Granted, this royal baby is not nearly as important as Prince George is supposed to be. It will not have the unearned privilege of sitting on whatever remains of the British throne. But STILL! It's a royal baby!

This time round it has become fashionable to downplay our interest. As if to avoid disappointment, we are supposed to act as though we are completely above this and show restraint. No pre-birth editions of major publications devoted to this baby's arrival. This time round the media is not allowed to camp outside of the Lindo wing until Kate is safely in the hospital. Even the Republican movement cannot move themselves to update their #bornequal hashtag for this occasion.

What is the world coming to?

(Cue violins)

Sometimes it gets lonely being the only one interested. Thank goodness for People magazine and Hello! providing me with a feast of rehashed details: Kate's birth plan. Names. Godparents. What the chosen one might wear while walking on water. All lovingly generalized by people with no insider knowledge whatsoever. Sometimes I wonder if they make things up.


Nah!


Oh well! When the time comes, I will be right there. Refreshing my twitter feed and making note of all of the excitement people predicted would never happen.


Maybe I'm not alone after all.


© Marilyn Braun 2015


Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

What will Baby Girl Cambridge be called?

I have already written a blog post about what Baby Boy Cambridge will be called, . Apparently William and Kate did not read it, choosing a name I disliked! George! Let's hope, if it is another boy they choose something less old fashioned and heavy sounding.


This time round many are expecting William and Kate to have a girl and there are many bets on what name they will choose. Currently some of the top contenders include: Elizabeth, Victoria and Mary. One site listed Khaleesi as an option, though neither of them strike me as Game of Thrones fans. Here is my list for names and why they may or may not be chosen.


Elizabeth

The name of the present Queen and the late Queen Mother. Elizabeth is also a popular middle name. Some royal ladies who have the name include: Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor, Zara Tindall, great-granddaughter Isla Phillips, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Lady Sarah Chatto, Lady Davina Lewis and Princess Alexandra to name a few (Phew!). Other than the present Queen, it is not used as a first name by anyone in the immediate line of succession to the throne, which means it is unlikely that there would be a 'muddle over two Elizabeth's in the family', as was the concern in 1926 when the present Queen was given her mother's name.


Alexandra

Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy, is the only current member of the royal family to use it as a first name, though there are several family members who have it as one of their given names, including the present Queen. It was also the name of the consort of King Edward VII, the beautiful Queen Alexandra. It would be a wonderful way to pay tribute to Princess Alexandra, who also happens to be Prince William's godmother.


Mary

At present no member of the royal family uses Mary as a first name. Like Elizabeth and Alexandra, there are members of the family who have it amongst their given names, thus making it a refreshing change. It is also the name of the venerable Queen Mary, consort of King George V.


Victoria
Sixteen of Queen Victoria's granddaughters had Victoria amongst their given names but only five used it. Victoria continued to be included until the present Queen was born. It still appears as a middle name but no one currently bears Victoria as a first name so like Mary, it would be a refreshing change.

Diana

Some are betting on Diana being included but I highly doubt it. While it would be a nice tribute it would be a lot for a little girl to live up to.


Alice
The name of Prince Philip's mother and a middle name for Princess Anne, no one in the immediate family uses it as a first name. Thus making it ripe for a revival!

Charlotte

The name Charlotte has a tragic royal history after King George III's only legitimate grandchild, Princess Charlotte of Wales, died in childbirth. Her death started a race to produce an heir amongst the elderly king's middle aged sons. This race resulted in the birth of Queen Victoria.  It is also Pippa Middleton's middle name.


Although I would love to see another Princess Elizabeth in the family, I lean towards William and Kate choosing Victoria or Charlotte. As this second child is unlikely to succeed the throne, William and Kate have more freedom to choose a name. Rumor has it they are Downton Abbey fans. Could there be a Princess Marigold of Cambridge in the future? We will find out in April!


© Marilyn Braun 2015

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Here's what I did while Catherine Cambridge was away..

Huzzah, Catherine Cambridge has returned to royal duties! Well at least for today. This appearance was eagerly anticipated by royal correspondents, photographers, fashion bloggers and others concerned for the welfare of someone they will never meet.

 

Instead of fretting about her absence, I put this time to constructive use:

• I lost 35.5 pounds
• I circumnavigated the globe twice. 
• I didn't read War and Peace.
• I learnt how to play the didgeridoo (it was on my bucket list).
• I crocheted blankets, infant hats and booties for all babies in third world countries.
• I reviewed approximately ONE book (see valid excuses above).
• I complained via Twitter about other royal books I have no intention of reading.
• I googled hyperemesis gravidarum so I could cut and paste it into this article.

I regret this period of personal renewal coming to an end. From now until April my twitter feed will be filled with baby bumps, fashions, inappropriate pregnancy speculation, royal baby names, the biography of her gynecologist and therapists weighing in on the 'spare's' future psychological issues. People despairing at intrusive coverage then inadvertently contributing to it. In my case I will despair about this then (between didgeridoo performances and making nutritious lunches for my children), I will write scintillating commentary attempting to put it all into perspective.

Unfortunately there will be no escape form this coverage. Especially once April arrives and people attempt to beat the record for amount of times #royalbaby can be used on Twitter before it brings down the internet.

April can't come soon enough!

 

© Marilyn Braun 2014






Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Move over Prince George, there's a new royal savior in town!

Dear Prince George,


Congratulations on your new brother or sister! (or both, depending on what tabloids you might be reading).


You may not be aware of it yet but big changes are coming. One day you will look back on these halcyon days when you were the royal baby. The mythical royal baby with pleasing features in a £55 Les Petites Abeilles romper suit, slaying republicans by doing nothing more than...nothing. You had the royal shtick down pat.


Now there's a new royal savior coming into town. Unfortunately this arrival means you will have to take a back seat on the world's stage for a while. Before  you throw a regal tantrum, remember that you will one day have all of the unearned glory that comes with being who you are. You will also have whatever is left of the kingdom if this new baby does not save it for you.


If the baby does save the union, he or she will have inestimable bragging rights to hold over you for the rest of your lives. If not, you can beat them up later. Either way, this could also lead to some uncomfortable thoughts. You may wonder...


Why didn't they recruit ME to save the kingdom? I was here ALL along?


I slayed republicans, I can handle Scotland too!


I already knew how to say NO!


Screw 'normal childhood', why didn't you politicize me more?


And once your parents get back from vacation they will have some explaining to do. They may tell you:


'you were napping,'
'the nanny didn't want to disturb you,'
'you looked so tired after slaying all of those big, bad republicans, we thought it best...'


Or they may try to blame YOU: 'we were ready to leave the house but you threw a tantrum...'


While there may be an element of truth to those answers, the simple one is this. Since time-immemorial people love babies. Their helplessness, disproportionate head to body ratio, large eyes...they are blank slates which you can project anything on to. By the time the new baby arrived, you were already your own distinct little person and therefore, less malleable and cooperative. Ultimately, nothing competes with a new baby. In other words, them's the breaks, kiddo!


So for now, enjoy being the royal baby. When your sibling arrives, they will get all of the attention, but you can take comfort in knowing you can always beat them up and pull rank when the time comes.


© Marilyn Braun 2014




Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Prince George, it's never too early to become the poster child for something

Prince George! Congratulations on your parents giving you a name! What a relief to those new parents waiting so they could name their own babies after you! Your aden + anais swaddle blankets sold out before you got home. Look at you already setting an example without realizing it. Good boy!

Clearly we need to harness this power! Think of the possibilities! Like your mother making it okay for new mothers to not instantly lose baby weight before leaving hospital, you are already the poster child for how not to strap your newborn into a car seat in front of the world media. Look at the photos, even YOU didn't look happy about it. Now newborns everywhere will know that they don't have to settle for anything less than complete safety.

Then there's food. You alone influence whether newborn babies breastfeed or not. If it is OK for you it is OK for other newborns. However, had you decided breastfeeding wasn't for you, that would have been OK too. In time, you can influence when new parents should start solid foods, eventually wean their babies and eat their vegetables. You're royal, forget being a picky eater. It. Just. Isn't. Done.

Can we talk about circumcision? Apparently your grandfather, Prince Charles was but your father wasn't. Of course this is a personal decision which you, unfortunately, have absolutely no control over. Suffice to say all of the doctors and rabbis poised with their Mogen clamps await your wails for the go-ahead.

What are you waiting for? Wake up Georgie, you can't stay in swaddle blankets forever! Like your mother's clothing, there are people out there, who can't dress their babies or potty train them. They desperately need your guidance!

Being a week old is no excuse. Only YOU can lead the way. Whether you like it or not.

© Marilyn Braun 2013

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Forgive us Baby Cambridge, we just can't help ourselves

Dear Baby Cambridge,

Congratulations on your birth! We've been waiting a long time for you. In fact, Had you known the amount of hysterical interest and speculation following every stage of your existence, you might have chosen to stay in longer. And it would have been completely understandable, if not nerve wracking for the rest of the world.

But now that you're out in the world, there's no going back! Yay for us and your parents, you're too young to have second thoughts. Don't worry, that will come in time when the full weight of our suffocating interest dawns on you. Your parents may protect you physically and emotionally, but cannot prevent the inevitable crushing reality dawning on you.

See, here's the thing. Everyone loves babies. Royal babies possibly even more so because we don't have to take care of you. Like grandparents, we have the best of both worlds. We can take pride in you, and spoil you with attention, but at the end of the day we can close the book and turn off the TV, until the next time you do something the media deems adorable. Even if it is just drooling.

Like your mother, you can do no wrong. For now. You will be the perfect baby and no matter what your level of attractiveness, you will be deemed the most beautiful child in the world. You will be put on a very high pedestal which may seem fun at first, especially as it will get wobbly. Your parents have their work cut out keeping you grounded in reality. They have a hard enough time doing this for themselves, so this will be tough.

Then there's us, the public, with our insatiable interest, even pre-conception we were discussing you and while in utero we speculated on every single aspect of your existence, even betting on things like your name, weight and how you would be born. As we speak, there are people who bet on you being born vaginally congratulating themselves! How many others can say the same?

The media, at our behest, will dig for any detail. Unfortunately, nothing is off limits. We will know if you have been circumcised and a biography of the person who does so. No use hiding when you have your first solids, when you are weaned from the breast, and when you begin potty training. The media will find out, or make it up along the way. Books and magazine articles will be written about it, not to mention all of the royal experts weighing in! Forget baby memory books, the stages of your development will be in the public domain for you to be embarrassed about later.

All of that will come in time though. But today you took the first step towards that on the Lindo wing steps in your mother's arms. Waving, already a royal pro, you were completely oblivious to the hoopla, gun salutes, and people impatiently refreshing twitter feeds while waiting for you to appear. Enjoy your oblivion while it lasts. As you sleep we are already intruding on it.


© Marilyn Braun 2013

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.