Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge was born on May 2nd, 2015, and since her arrival, the world has been captivated by this charming young royal. Not only is she third in line to the British throne (after Prince William and Prince George), but she is also the first female born into the British Royal Family in 25 years.
If you’re as fascinated as we are with the Royal Family and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s family, here are five facts we know about Princess Charlotte:
1. The meaning behind the name “Charlotte”
The choosing of her middle names (Elizabeth and Diana) may be a tad obvious, but the meaning behind Charlotte is a more complex one.
Not only is Charlotte the feminine form of the name Charles (as her grandfather, King Charles), it’s Pippa Middleton’s middle name as well. Not only that, Charlotte was once a popular name in Royal Family history, as George III married Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1761, and their eldest daughter, also named Charlotte, was designated Princess Royal in 1789. Furthermore, Princess Diana’s brother (Earl Spencer) named his youngest daughter Charlotte as well.
2. Her christening wasn't in the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace in London
Breaking away from the normal royal tradition, Princess Charlotte wasn't christened in the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace as her older brother was in 2013, but in Norfolk. The christening took place at St. Mary Magdalene Church and was conducted by the head of the Church of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (who also baptized Prince George in October 2013).
Princess Diana was also christened in St. Mary Magdalene’s Church in 1961, and it is also the church the Royal Family visits on Christmas Day every year for holiday services.
3. She calls Anmer Hall her home
If you have ever joined a free walking tour of London, you might have visited Buckingham Palace. But you won't find Charlotte there!
Also breaking away from the usual royal tradition, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decided to raise their daughter (and Prince George, of course) at their Norfolk home on Sandringham Estate.
Although the royal couple spent the first few weeks of Prince George’s life with Carole and Michael Middleton in Berkshire, William and Kate decided to settle down in Norfolk so Prince William could focus on his flying career.
The ten-bedroom country house was initially bought by Queen Victoria in 1862 as a wedding present for Edward VII, and the Queen decided to gift the estate to Kate and William for their wedding in 2011 as well.
The estate is about 12 miles northeast of King's Lynn and two miles east of the royal residence at Sandringham, and includes a swimming pool and a private tennis court.
4. Her godparents
Although rumours were swirling that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would choose Princess Beatrice to be Princess Charlotte’s godmother, it was later announced that Kate Middleton’s long-time friend Sophie Carter would be the godmother instead. It was also announced that William’s friends (Thomas van Straubenzee and James Meade) would be her godfathers, which shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise for Royal Family followers as they both served as ushers in William and Kate’s wedding in 2011.
5. She was not as fussy as Prince George
Unlike her older brother, who was known to wake up everyone in his family at all hours of the night with his high-pitched wailing, baby Princess Charlotte was said to sleep through the night and was much easier on the Duchess of Cambridge than Prince George.
Have you been left wanting to know more about the royal family? Then why not sign up for a free guided tour of the epicenter of British monarchy on your next trip to London - a free tour of Westminster!
