What’s in a name??

File photo dated 06/12/12 of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leaving the King Edward VII hospital in London as the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to St Mary's Hospital in London in the early stages of labour, Kensington Palace said today. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday July 22, 2013. She travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing of the hospital with the Duke of Cambridge. Kate is being tended by a top medical team led by the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's two children. See PA story ROYAL Baby. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Thanks to Royal decree, we do know that the Royal arrival will be either a Prince or a Princess... traditionally only the first born son of a Duke of Cambridge took the title of Prince and all daughters became Royal ladies at Court, but not Princesses.

So what’s in a name... Well, here in Londonderry two very important names historically are ‘William’ and ‘James’.

If it is a boy then the new arrival will, no doubt have at least one of this father’s four names (William Arthur Philip Louis), and we may see one of his two grandfather’s names ‘Charles’ or ‘Michael’ in the mix. Philip and George are also highly popular choices and are among the front runners at the bookies offices the length and breadth of the UK and the rest of the Realm, no doubt.

Despite what names the new arrival has, if he is a boy or a girl, he/she can always choose a specific name by which to rule.

What about if it is a girl?

Interestingly, the Duchess of Cambridge’s first name is Catherine, and the last Queen Catherine was Catherine Parr, one of the wives of Henry VIII. She has a direct link to the Island of Ireland as she was the first ‘Queen Consort of Ireland as well as being the fourth commoner Henry took as his consort, and outlived him. On the downside, she was also the most-married English queen, having had four husbands, and that might not go down well with the present Monarch.

That said, Catherine Parr was am immensely intelligent and influential woman and enjoyed a close relationship with Henry’s three children. She was personally involved in the education of Elizabeth and Edward, both of whom became English monarchs. She was influential in Henry’s passing of the Third Succession Act in 1543 that restored both his bastardised daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, to the line of succession to the throne.

Queen Catherine also has a tenuous link to Londonderry through a talented young designer, Aileen Faller, who earlier this year was chosen to contribute to Catherine Elizabeth. Dare I speculate that Carole might be another option for William and Catherine’s child if the little bundle happens to be a little girl or, perhaps one of his other grandmother’s names after Diana Princess of Wales, Diana or Frances.

Whatever the couple choose, like everything else, the names of a first-born and heir to the Throne of England have to be given Royal approval.