Royal baby named George Alexander Louis

Prince George in the arms of his mother as they left the hospital. Picture: PA

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced last night that their son would be named George Alexander Louis.

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Kensington Palace said: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son George Alexander Louis.

“The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.”

Six King Georges have worn the crown since the German-born George I, the first Hanoverian king of Great Britain, acceded to the throne in 1714.

The infant prince was yesterday embraced by relatives from both sides of his family when his parents arrived with their newborn in Kate’s Berkshire family home, hours after the Queen met her great-grandson for the first time.

Together with his parents, Prince George is expected to stay with his maternal grandparents, Michael and Carol Middleton, in the village of Bucklebury for several days.

With the duke on two weeks’ paternity leave and the duchess surrounded by her family, the royal couple will have the time to relax and get to know their son, while the Middletons help care for their “absolutely beautiful” grandson.

The low-key events, which came less than 24 hours after the baby’s first public appearance, outside St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, represented the beginning of parenthood for the couple, away from the glare of the media.

“This is now a private and quiet time for them to get to know their son,” a spokesman for Kensington Palace said.

Earlier, the Queen arrived at the palace to see her great-grandson for the first time.

The monarch, who has declared herself “thrilled” by the arrival of the baby who will one day become king, made the trip ahead of her traditional summer holiday to Balmoral.

Dressed in a turquoise floral outfit the Queen looked relaxed as she left the palace after spending just over half an hour with the latest addition to her family.

She had travelled to see William and Kate and their baby without the Duke of Edinburgh, who is still convalescing at Windsor Castle following exploratory abdominal surgery last month.

Her visit followed other family trips since last night made by the baby’s uncle, Prince Harry, and aunt, Pippa Middleton.

Meanwhile, the BBC yesterday defended its coverage of the birth after viewers complained it was excessive and too unbalanced in favour of the Royal Family.

It said “care” had been taken to ensure other stories were covered alongside the latest royal arrival and added that the story had been “extremely popular” with audiences.

Keeping it in the family after line of kings

The name George is synonymous with British kings. It has come to represent the continuity of the monarchy and remained the bookmakers’ favourite in the name-guessing stakes from the moment Kate’s pregnancy was announced.

The first name of the last King George – George VI – was actually Albert and he was known to his family as “Bertie”, but he selected George, his fourth name, to use as sovereign. He was the much-loved father of the present Queen and the new Prince George of Cambridge’s great-great grandfather.

George VI chose George in honour of his father George V and to create the impression of stability after the scandal caused by the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. George is also the fourth name of the the baby’s grandfather, the Prince of Wales.

The name Louis is likely to be a tribute to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh’s uncle and the last British viceroy of India before independence in 1947. Lord Mountbatten and William’s father, the Prince of Wales, were very close. He was known by the royal family as Uncle Dickie and was assassinated by the IRA in August 1979.

His boat was blown up on a fishing trip off the coast of County Sligo, Republic of Ireland.

Baby Prince George’s other middle name, Alexander, is one that three medieval Scottish kings have had. The name Alexander was said to be a favourite choice of the Middleton family.