The name of Prince William and Katherine's third child has been announced as Louis Arthur Charles four days after his birth on April 23 at St Mary's Hospital in London. Anticipation of the announcement has captivated the media and royal-watchers around the world as a new member is added to the innermost circle of the royal family.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles.
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 27, 2018
The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge. pic.twitter.com/4DUwsLv5JQ
The announcement from Kensington Palace has ignited an immediate outpouring of reaction and well-wishing online.
Thank goodness its not Albert 😂. Love the name
— Stephanie Sasmaz (@stephjayne86) April 27, 2018
I like Louis!!!
— Alex (@ConfidentWeirdo) April 27, 2018
Presumably in honour of' Louis Mountbatten.
— Gregory Woodhouse (@GregoryGrimble) April 27, 2018
The new Prince's royal style will be "His Royal Highness, Prince Louis of Cambridge."
Prince Louis is widely believed to have been named for the adoptive uncle of his great-grandfather Prince Phillip, Louis of the House of Battenburg later to be renamed Mountbatten. His third Christian name, Charles is a nod to the next British Monarch, his grandfather Charles the Prince of Wales.
In a break from the traditions of the past, Prince Louis will not automatically displace his older sister Princess Charlotte in the line of succession, as the Parliamentary Succession to the Crown Act of 2013 eliminated the automatic preference for male heirs, instead favoring "absolute primogeniture" according to which the eldest child succeeds regardless of gender.
READ MORE: Twitter Welcomes Third Child of UK's Prince William and His Wife Kate
