Royals weave family in Charlotte's names

The newborn baby princess, born to parents Kate Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, is carried in a car seat by her father from The Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital, in London, Saturday, May 2, 2015.  Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to their second child, a baby girl on Saturday morning. The name of the new born baby princess is not yet announced. (John Stillwell/Pool via AP)
The newborn baby princess, born to parents Kate Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, is carried in a car seat by her father from The Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital, in London, Saturday, May 2, 2015. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to their second child, a baby girl on Saturday morning. The name of the new born baby princess is not yet announced. (John Stillwell/Pool via AP)

LONDON -- Prince William and his wife, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, on Monday announced Charlotte Elizabeth Diana as the name they picked for the United Kingdom's newborn princess, a choice seen as a tribute to both William's parents and grandmother, the queen, as well as a link to Kate's family.

The princess, the second child of William and Kate, will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, royal officials said.

The birth of Princess Charlotte marks a new chapter for William and Kate. But the names they chose are firmly rooted in royal family history. Charlotte, the feminine form of Charles, appears to be a nod to the newborn's grandfather, Prince Charles. The baby's middle names honor Queen Elizabeth II, the infant's 89-year-old great-grandmother, and the late Princess Diana, William's mother and the baby's grandmother.

Charlotte also features in Kate's family, as the middle name of her sister, Pippa Middleton.

The newborn princess is fourth in line to the throne after Charles, William and her older brother, 21-month-old Prince George.

William and Kate introduced the baby princess to the world Saturday evening, just 12 hours after Kate checked into St. Mary's Hospital in London to give birth. The baby weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces.

Her name was warmly welcomed Monday by royal fans. Some were particularly pleased about the tribute to Diana, still remembered fondly by many. Diana, who died in 1997 at age 36, gave birth to William and Harry at the same London hospital where Charlotte was born.

"I so much wanted the name Diana to be in there somewhere," said Munever Halil, 52. "I wanted it to be Elizabeth Diana, so I think it's lovely."

Charles Spencer, Diana's brother, also approved of the choice.

"Perfect names. My 2-year-old Charlotte Diana will be thrilled at cousinly name-sharing," he tweeted.

Earlier Monday, Westminster Abbey's bells pealed and gun salutes were fired across London in honor of the newborn princess. In a display of traditional pageantry, dozens of volleys were fired from Hyde Park and the Tower of London to mark the occasion.

The royal couple had kept the world guessing about the baby's name until after both sets of grandparents got a chance to visit Kensington Palace on Sunday to meet their granddaughter.

The U.K.'s royal history includes several Charlottes, but most lived at least 200 years ago. Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, was a keen botanist and founded London's Kew Gardens. Born in 1744, the queen had 15 children -- including one Princess Charlotte, who grew up to marry a German duke.

George IV also named his only child Charlotte in 1796, but she died in childbirth at the age of 21 in 1817.

But royal historian Hugo Vickers said he believed William and Kate probably didn't choose the first name based on distant history.

"To be honest, I think they just chose the name because they liked it, which is what they do and what we respect about them," he said.

The new princess will be formally christened in the coming weeks, potentially in the same chapel at St. James's Palace, like her brother. Her godparents likely will be announced on the morning of the christening.

William and Kate are staying at London's Kensington Palace for now, but in the coming days they are expected to return to their country home near the queen's Sandringham estate, 120 miles north of London.

A Section on 05/05/2015

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