Public snobbery over royal baby name

We often hear about how monarchies need to be closer to the people to survive in the 21st century.  The era of an aloof royal family, separated from the rest of their nation by custom and deference, is past and modern monarchs are expected to be one of the people.

But then sometimes the people bite back.  When it comes to some things like names, clothes and behavior a lot more is expected.  If future Queen Consort Kate Middleton goes for a name that isn't quite royal enough she's could find herself on the receiving end of criticism because this is one area where everyone has an opinion.

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge has a tricky balancing act in picking her baby's name - not too out of touch but still regal enough for a future ruler

Most recently the decision by Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Daniel to call their first born Estelle raised some eyebrows.  It's not a traditionally Swedish name and not even particularly popular in the country at the moment.  While some loved the originality of the choice, others thought it less appropriate for a future monarch and some highlighted the fact it was also the name of a fairly popular brand of crisps.  Some commentators called it a political statement and it took a fair few weeks for the dust to settle over the name of this Queen in waiting.

Princess Estelle of Sweden with her parents, Victoria and Daniel, on one of her first public appearances

(photo Frankie Fouganthin)

Crown Princess Mary also took some flak in 2007 when she named her eldest daughter, Isabella.  The little princess was the first girl born into the royal family for over 60 years and there was much speculation about which Danish name would be used for her so the choice of Isabella was greeted with a bit of a stunned silence all round.  It's also ben quite a popular name for baby girls in the UK and Australia in recent years and just wasn't royal enough for some commentators. 

Princess Isabella of Denmark, far right, on the balcony of the royal palace with her parents Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, her older brother Christian and her grandparents, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik.  Uncle Joachim and hers cousins Nicholas and Felix also wave to the crowds.

(photo Bill Ebbesen)

 

Maybe that's why previous Queen Consorts of England stuck to the tried and tested.  Most called their first borns after their royal husband's parents ensuring the in laws were kept happy and the names were kept in the royal family.  Later babies might get something more unusual - Queen Charlotte had sons called Adolphus and Octavius while Henry IV's third son was Humphrey which would be a magnificent but highly unlikely choice for baby Cambridge.