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A regal connection: All the times the Royals turned to their blue-blooded relatives for name inspiration

Lilibet isn't the only royal name paying ode to Queen Elizabeth.
Prince George breaks royal protocol by wearing trousers at age of 4
Prince George breaks royal protocol by wearing trousers at age of 4
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When the British Royal family members set about finding a name for their offspring, a whole lot more goes into the process than just liking a name.

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Many royals have several names, some donโ€™t have an official surname, and many lean into their rich and long family history.

They royals may not always be very creative โ€“ hence there have been eight King Henrys and also eight King Edwards, but naming monarchs is a whole different ball game โ€“ however, they are steeped in tradition.

We decided to look back at the lineage and inspiration behind the names of our favourite royals, and their children.

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Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi

Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their first child together, a baby girl, on Saturday 18 September.

A few weeks later, they finally revealed their daughterโ€™s name on their social media, which pays homage to Beatriceโ€™s iconic grandmother.

The newbornโ€™s middle name Elizabeth is an ode to her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, and her first name, Sienna, references the Italian city of Siena of Tuscany. Considering Edoardo is reported to have ties to the Italian aristocracy, itโ€™s a fitting addition to her moniker.

Misan Harriman

Lilibet

Lilibet โ€œLiliโ€ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have gifted their newborn daughter with a name derived from two women who have had an important role in Harryโ€™s life.

Lilibetโ€™s first name comes from her great-grandmother, the Queenโ€™s family nickname, that came about when the then-infant princess couldnโ€™t pronounce her name. Itโ€™s also a name that the late Prince Philip liked to call his wife.

Her middle name is, of course, a tribute to Harryโ€™s late mother and the ever-iconic Princess Diana.

Misan Harriman

Archie birthday

Archiebald โ€˜Archieโ€™ Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor

Archieโ€™s name has Germanic origins, which may be a nod to the Windsor familyโ€™s German roots.

In German, the name means โ€œgenuineโ€ and โ€œbold,โ€ however, the shortened version of the name โ€˜Archeโ€™ could be a reference to the ancient Greek word that means โ€˜wisdomโ€™ and โ€˜strength.โ€™

Perhaps the cutest addition to Archieโ€™s name is his middle name Harrison, which means โ€œson of Harryโ€.

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Prince George

George Alexander Louis

The birth of the heir to the throne was a monumental occasion for Britain, so of course, his name had to come from the familyโ€™s most influential members.

There have been six King Georges in the family, and the last to serve was Queen Elizabethโ€™s father, King George VI.

It has been speculated that Georgeโ€™s middle name Alexander is an ode to his grandmotherโ€™s middle name, Alexandra.

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Kensington Royal

Princess Charlotte

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

It was very exciting when Prince William and Duchess Catherine gave birth to their first and only daughter in 2015.

William and Kate chose powerful women as namesakes for their daughter, with her first name Charlotte referencing Queen Charlotte, who was the wife of King George III, and her middle name pays homage to Williamโ€™s mother, Princess Diana.

Royal experts have also noted that Charlotte is the feminine version of the name Charles, which is the name of Williamโ€™s father, next-in-line-to-the-throne Prince Charles.

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Prince Louis

Louis Arthur Charles

Louisโ€™ name was an unexpected choice, but its sentimental meaning is a nod to one of Prince Williamโ€™s middle names given to him in honour of Prince Philipโ€™s uncle and Prince Charlesโ€™ mentor, Lord Louis Mountbatten.

The middle name Arthur is also the middle name of Louisโ€™ grandfather, Prince Charles.

Instagram

Princess Eugenie

August Philip Hawke Brooksbank

Princess Eugenie revealed the double meaning behind her sonโ€™s name on her Instagram story.

โ€œHe is named after his great-grandfather and both of his great x5 grandfathers,โ€ she wrote.

Queen Victoriaโ€™s husband Prince Albertโ€™s Christian name was August, and the middle name Philip comes from the late Prince Phillip, Eugenieโ€™s grandfather.

The name Hawke derives from Eugenieโ€™s husband Jackโ€™s family.

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Prince Harry

Henry Charles Albert David

In the book Diana: Her Story by Andrew Morton, Princess Diana revealed that she chose her sonโ€™s first names, โ€œI chose William and Harry, but Charles did the rest. He wanted Albert and Arthur, and I said no. Too old!โ€ she said.

However, of course, Harryโ€™s middle name, Charles, is a tribute to his father, and Albert is a traditional family name.

The last name in Harryโ€™s extensive title, David, is commonly used by the family as a middle name for boys.

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Prince William

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis Duke of Cambridge

The name William is a classic royal name that has been passed down, the most iconic relative with the name was the 11th-century ruler, William the Conqueror.

His middle name Philip is a tribute to his late grandfather, Prince Phillip whilst Louis honours Charlesโ€™ great-uncle and mentor Lord Louis Mountbatten.

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Zara Tindall

Zara Anne Elizabeth Tindall

Her Uncle Prince Charles gave Zara her unusual first name, and her mother, Princess Anne, explained the choice soon after her birth.

โ€œMy brother thought Zara (a Greek name meaning โ€˜bright as the dawnโ€™) was an appropriate name,โ€ said Princess Anne.

Of course, Zaraโ€™s middle names honour two important women in her life. Anne is a reference to her mother, and Elizabeth is in honour of her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

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Prince Christian

Christian Valdemar Henri John

Thereโ€™s not a lot of choice for those in line for the Danish throne โ€“ tradition dictates itโ€™s either Christian or Frederik. So as his dad is Prince Frederick, the next heir is Christian.

His middle name dates back to before the 14th century and has a long tradition of being included as a name for royal boys, and Henri honours John, his paternal grandfather. Alas it doesnโ€™t seem the family of his mum, Australian-born Princess Mary, got much of a look-in.

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