800px-The_Duke_and_Duchess_of_Cambridge_with_Prince_George

William and Kate have finally announced the name of their new baby boy. The boy was born earlier this week on Monday, April 23, 2018, but the announcement of the name of the latest member of the royal family was delayed by a few days. Now, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released their baby son’s name. His name is Louis Arthur Charles, a combination that few people expected.

The name was announced on Friday, April 27, 2018, by Kensington Palace. “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles,” the statement from Kensington Palace said. “The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.”

Louis was an unexpected name choice for the new prince. The most predicted names were Albert, Arthur, Alexander, James and Philip. Those betting on a Prince Louis were given odds of 18:1.

Louis is normally associated with France making it an unusual choice for the first name of an English monarch, but what the name lacks in traditional British pedigree, it makes up for in sentimental family connection. The Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the uncle of Queen Elizabeth’s husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was named Louis. Louis Mountbatten served with distinction in World War II and became the last Viceroy of India, the head of the British colonial administration in India. Unfortunately, he was assassinated by the Irish Republican Army in 1979 when they placed a bomb in his fishing boat.

Louis Arthur weighed a total of eight pounds and seven ounces when he was born and is fifth in line for the throne. That he is fifth in line for the throne and not fourth is significant for the royal family. Prior to the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013, Prince Louis would have jumped ahead of his sister Charlotte in the line of succession. With the 2013 act, however, a younger brother can no longer usurp his sister’s claim to the throne. Princesses have an equal chance at becoming the ruling monarch.

With Prince Louis’ name officially announced, most royal family watchers are now free to turn their attention to the upcoming wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. The ceremony is set to occur on May 19, 2018.

 

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