Why Prince Andrew And Sarah Ferguson Waited 2 Weeks To Name Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice would have been known under a different name had Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson got their way. However, Queen Elizabeth II reportedly intervened when she learned what the Duke and Duchess of York wanted to name their daughter.

Princess Beatrice is Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s first child, who was born on Aug. 8, 1988. However, her name was only announced two weeks after her birth, which is already a long wait even by royal family standards.

For comparison, Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s names were already announced two days after they were born. Meanwhile, Prince Louis’ name was announced a bit later, four days after his birth. But still it’s nowhere near Beatrice’s two-week waiting period before her name was announced.

The delay was because of a royal family tradition where every royal child’s name should get the approval of the Queen. Apparently, the name originally chosen by Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson for their firstborn was not to Her Majesty’s liking.

According to The Sun, the Duke and Duchess of York’s original wish was to name her Annabel. But when Queen Elizabeth II learned of the couple’s name choice, she reportedly thought it to be too “yuppie.”

The Queen then suggested to name the young princess “Beatrice,” after Queen Victoria’s ninth and youngest child, Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore. Prince Andrew and Fergie agreed to Her Majesty’s suggestion and later named the child Beatrice Elizabeth Mary.

The Duke and Duchess of York never revealed what inspired them to make Annabel as their first choice. However, there are speculations among royal family fans that it may have been taken from the Mayfair private club Annabel’s, which is said to be their favorite haunt.

The sad thing about getting a name is that one is totally at the mercy of one’s parent’s during the naming process that it’s possible to get stuck to a name that one doesn’t like. Thankfully for Princess Beatrice, both her parents and her grandmother took the time to carefully choose a name fit for a royal.