The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced last night their baby son would be called George Alexander Louis.
Prince William and Kate’s baby will be known as Prince George and as third in line to the throne will one day be king.
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 throughout history since the German-born George I, the first Hanoverian king of Great Britain, acceded to the throne in 1714.
The last was the Queen’s father George VI, who died in 1952, but was known to his family as Bertie.
George was the most popular name with the bookies with betting firms William Hill, Coral and Paddy Power all offering short odds on the moniker. 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.
Mountbatten and William’s father the Prince of Wales were very close, with Charles confiding in his relative.
Six King Georges have worn the British crown
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.
Before the royal couple left the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London where their baby was born, William revealed that naming the infant was a priority, saying: ‘‘We’re still working on a name, so we will have that as soon as we can.’’
It had been thought the Duke and Duchess would spend a few days deliberating on what to call their son but it appears they may have had a name in mind and were discussing it with family members. They followed tradition and picked names for their newborn which all have royal connotations.
Baby George’s other middle name – Alexander – is one that three medieval Scottish kings had.
The couple are understood to have had a few names in mind but it took a few days for them to finally confirm which one was right for their son. It was William and Kate’s decision what to call their firstborn and all three names picked were chosen because they liked them.
The Queen saw her great-grandson for the first time yesterday morning when she visited the Duke and Duchess at their home in Kensington Palace.