What should the child’s name be? On this question, opinions differed between King Charles and Princess Diana at Prince Harry’s birth. Now the Duke of Sussex reveals what his father would have called him.
Like all parents, King Charles (74) and Princess Diana (36, † 1997) faced the question: What should we name our child? It is not quite as easy for blue-blooded people as it is for mere mortals, because the name also has to be approved by Her Majesty, then Queen Elizabeth II (96, † 2022). how Prince Harry’s (38), the Queen’s grandson, got his name because the Princess of Wales got her way, he recounts in his recent memoir, Spare.
Harry caught on as a household nickname for Henry from birth, he writes.
Prince Harry almost got named after another royal, but his mother, Princess Diana, decided against it. Fortunately, in royal circles, one name is rarely used, and so father Charles also agreed to name his second son, whose sonorous maiden name is: Henry Charles Albert David. Harry, a well-known nickname for Henry, was adopted from birth, as the Duke writes in his book.
Because Diana was not at all enthusiastic about the name Albert. Harry writes that his grandmother, the Queen, adored Queen Victoria (81, † 1901) and Charles III. initially wanted to give him the name of her husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (42, † 1861), but Diana vetoed her.
Harry’s Name Reveal in “Spare”
The Duke of Sussex writes: ‘Near grandmother’s lift [auf Schloss Balmoral in Schottland], through a pair of crimson drawing-room doors and along a green tartan floor, was a small staircase with a heavy iron banister; it led to the second floor where stood a statue of Queen Victoria”.
And further: “I always bowed to her when I passed by. Your Majesty! Willy did too. We were told, but I would have done it anyway.”
Followed by: “I found the ‘Grandmother of Europe’ incredibly fascinating, not only because Grandma loves her, but also because Dad once wanted to name me after her husband (Mom blocked him)”.
Albert is also the middle name of Charles’ disgraced brother Prince Andrew (62)
A modification of the modification has prevailed for Prince Harry himself and his wife Meghan (41). Speaking to a child named Henry on a video call at the WellChild Awards ceremony, Prince Harry said: “My name is Henry too. But everyone calls me H.” And in August 2018, the former actress revealed another cute nickname she slipped out at the gala performance with the cast of the musical Hamilton. Worried she might block Harry’s sight, she solicited, “Can you see, my love?”
Even Prince William never calls his brother Henry. As usual among siblings, both have come up with nicknames for each other, which Prince Harry also reveals in Spare. Recounting an altercation, he quotes himself: “Willy, I can’t talk to you when you’re like that.” Later in the biography, he also reveals the nickname Prince William has for him in the sentence: “I have didn’t attack you, Harold”. In any case, the name won’t get boring. When Harry served in the army, he was known as Harry Wales. He named his son Archie (3) with his middle name after himself: Harry’s son – Harrison. Sources used: mirror.co.uk, hellomagazine.com
