Kate Middleton felt 'pressure' picking names for her children
Kate Middleton says she felt ‘big pressure’ picking names for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis because she knew ‘the world was waiting’ during visit to maternity ward, midwife reveals
- Kate Middleton told a midwife today of the ‘pressure’ she felt choosing names
- The Princess of Wales visited the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s maternity unit
- Amy Stubbs revealed royal had said she chose her ‘favourite’ names for children
The Princess of Wales today revealed the ‘pressure’ she felt choosing names for her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince George during a visit to an award-winning maternity unit at a hospital in Surrey.
Mother-of-three Kate, 40, looked radiant in the mustard £220 Karen Millen dress as she cradled a newborn baby at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, where she has learnt more about the support it provides to pregnant women and new mothers.
During the visit, Amy Stubbs, deputy director of midwifery, spoke with the royal, and later revealed how they had chatted about the early days of motherhood and what it feels like to have children.
Speaking to People magazine, she revealed Kate had spoken about how she and Prince William had chosen names for their children, saying: ‘She said they were their favorite names and that obviously the world was waiting for them to name their children — and that felt like quite a big pressure!’
Royals traditionally keep the public guessing before revealing their choice of name.
William and Kate took two days to announce both George and Charlotte’s names, informing the Queen of their choice beforehand, while they waited four days to announce their son Louis’ name.
The Princess of Wales today revealed the ‘pressure’ she felt choosing names for her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince George during a visit to an award-winning maternity unit at a hospital in Surrey
During the visit, Amy Stubbs, deputy director of midwifery, spoke with the royal, and later revealed how they had chatted about the early days of motherhood and what it feels like to have children
The Princess’s maternal instincts were on display as she sat holding the newborn baby girl, Bianca, while supporting her head, and wore a facemask to prevent any risk of spreading Covid to the infant.
She also spoke with Bianca’s mother, Sylvia Novak, about the care she had received from staff at the maternity unit.
Her Royal Highness accessorised the bright yellow dress, which had echoes of summer, with contrasting navy suede court stilettos and a navy clutch bag.
Her brunette locks, worn in curls and tucked behind one ear, bounced in the breeze as she strolled up to the entrance of the hospital. She was also spotted wearing a face mask inside the hospital corridors, in line with covid regulations.
The Princess wore simple and understated silver hoops with a teardrop and opted for just a touch of make-up with a neutral lip shade and minimal eyeshadow.
The Princess of Wales looked lovingly at a newborn baby girl, Bianca, at the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s maternity unit in Guildford
Her Royal Highness supported the baby’s head as she spoke to her mother, Sylvia Novak, who had recently given birth to her baby daughter in the unit
Masked up! The Princess of Wales stuck to Covid regulations at the maternity unit of the Royal Surrey County Hospital this afternoon on her official visit
The Princess of Wales, 40, looked radiant in a mustard £220 Karen Millen dress an as she arrived at the maternity unit in Surrey this afternoon
What do Kate and William’s children’s names mean?
Prince George’s name, Prince George Alexander Louis, was revealed two days after his birth
Prince George’s name, Prince George Alexander Louis, was revealed two days after his birth.
William and Kate came to a relatively quick decision about the hugely anticipated name. George had long been the favourite, with bookmakers shortening the odds in the days before the announcement.
George: It is likely the Queen will have been thrilled by the choice of name, given that her father was George VI. He was christened Albert and was known to his family as Bertie, but monarchs are allowed to pick a name under which to rule.
He chose George in honour of his father, George V, and to create the impression of stability after the scandal caused by the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII.
George is also the fourth name of the Prince of Wales.
Historian and biographer Robert Lacey said: ‘George is obviously a tribute to the Queen’s father and will, I imagine, give Her Majesty great pleasure.’
Before the name was announced, the BBC’s royal correspondent, Peter Hunt, asked William whether he would name his son George in line with the bookmakers’ predictions.The duke laughed and said: ‘Wait and see.’
Alexander: The less obvious choice is Alexander, although there are also some royal relatives: Prince Philip’s grandfather was Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg, for example.
Louis: Louis, the baby’s third name, is William’s fourth name – he is William Arthur Philip Louis.
It was chosen by Charles as a tribute to his close friend and mentor, Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh’s uncle. He was assassinated by the IRA in August 1979 when his boat was blown up on a fishing trip off the coast of Ireland.
Princess Charlotte’s name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, was announced two days after her birth and was a tribute to the Queen and Princess Diana
Princess Charlotte’s name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, was announced two days after her birth.
Charlotte: A name that is French in origin — is a nod to the little’s girl grandfather, the Prince of Wales. Charlotte is also the middle name of Kate’s sister Pippa Middleton.
In choosing to call their daughter Charlotte, the Cambridges have picked a traditional name with royal connections.
Queen Charlotte was the wife of George III, known as the ‘mad king’, and was a keen botanist who founded the world-renowned Kew Gardens.
Their first daughter was called Charlotte and George IV also gave the name to his only child. It has featured in Kate’s family as her sister Pippa Middleton has it as her middle name.
The name was particularly popular in the 18th and 19th centuries due to Queen Charlotte’s influence in tandem with that of novelist Charlotte Bronte. It rose in popularity in the 1980s, particularly in the UK and Australia.
Elizabeth: The princess’s middle name Elizabeth is in tribute to the Queen, the girl’s great-grandmother.
The Queen is held in great respect by her family and William has spoken of how she has become an even more important part of his life as he has grown older.
Diana: Diana is the name of William’s late mother, the Princess of Wales.
The youngest member of the family is called Louis Arthur Charles. His name was announced four days after his birth, with many waiting with baited breath to learn what he would be called
The youngest member of the family is called Louis Arthur Charles.
His name was announced four days after his birth, with many waiting with baited breath to learn what he would be called.
Louis: The name is French and German in origin and means ‘renowned warrior’. It is one of William’s middle names, and Prince George also has it as a middle name.
Lord Mountbatten was born Prince Louis of Battenburg in Windsor in 1900. His great-grandmother was Queen Victoria and his sister was Princess Alice of Battenberg, Prince Philip’s mother.
Arthur: Arthur is William’s middle name and a link to the legendary King Arthur adds a special Royal pedigree. The name means ‘Bear’ – currently a popular baby name in its own right – and the ‘Art’ link suits this pair of History of Art graduates perfectly.
Charles: Charles is a time-honoured Royal name and ever popular with the upper classes, making it the perfect way to honour William’s father. It means ‘man’ or ‘warrior’ and suits our new Bonnie Prince. It is considered an unlucky royal name for a king as Charles I was executed and Charles II’s reign featured the plague and the Great Fire of London.
The maternity unit, which cares for around 3,000 babies every year, received a UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Gold Award in May for its outstanding work supporting infant-feeding and parent-infant relationships.
The unit’s ethos is that high-quality maternity and early years care can improve long-term health of the population – a belief the Princess of Wales champions in her work with the Centre for Early Childhood.
This is a solo trip for Her Royal Highness as her husband Prince William carries out his own duties today – meeting young footballers at a training session at St George’s Park.
Kate and Prince William were made Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles III on September 9, a title reserved for the heir apparent of the monarch.
Kate looked relaxed and at ease as she laughed on her departure from the hospital at the end of the public engagement, which was her first since becoming Princess of Wales
Once it was safe to whip off her face mask, The Princess beamed for the cameras upon her departure from the maternity unit, where she had visited staff and mothers
The Princess carried a posy of flowers which included eucalyptus and roses, and had been tied together with a rustic straw fastening
The Princess displayed her subtle £795 Emily Mortimer Hera White Gold and Diamond Pear Detachable Drops as she tucked her hair behind her ear
The Princess put her arm around a well-wisher who has lined up to meet her during the visit outside the Royal Surrey County Hospital
The young girl coyly smiled at the Princess as she reached out to put her hand on the well-wisher’s arm, while still wearing her covid face mask and carrying flowers
Her Royal Highness looked peaceful and utterly at ease as she cradled tiny newborn baby girl Bianca in her arms and supported her head
Kate wore a Covid-19 facemask as she chatted to Bianca’s mother, who has recently given birth in the maternity unit at the Surrey hospital
Staff lined up along the corridor of the hospital eager to catch a glimpse of the Princess of Wales as she walked through to meet with people running the Jasmine Team
The Princess of Wales walked along the corridor of the hospital’s award-winning maternity unit while wearing a mask in line with Covid regulations, which are still in place in some hospital trusts
The royal mother-of-three could be seen reaching up to adjust her mask as she walked through the corridors of the hospital earlier today
Harking back to the days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Princess of Wales donned her face mask to prevent the spread of the virus
Her Royal Highness looked professional and regal as ever as she chatted with a member of staff at the hospital in Guildford, which has won an award for its maternity care
The Princess met staff from the unit’s Jasmine Team, which helps women affected by mental illness during pre and post-natal periods – something that one in five women in the UK are affected by.
The Princess, who has recently become patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, is said to be passionate about the mental wellbeing of mothers.
After taking on the role with the charity, the Princess released a video stressing the importance of ensuring good mental health among mothers.
She said: ‘We all know that pregnancy, childbirth and the first months and years of ta child’s live can be hugely demanding.
‘Parents often feel lonely and overwhelmed by these early years.’
She added: ‘No one is immune to experiencing anxiety and depression during this time.’
As she announced her patronage with the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, she said she was ‘extremely proud’ to be working with the charity.
The mother-of-three wore her brunette locks down in a curled style and brushed behind one ear as she attended the maternity unit
Kate’s dress, belted at the middle, was a bright, summery flash of colour on a dreary autumn day as she arrived at the unit in the Royal Surrey County Hospital
The Princess, who has spoken about the importance of preserving the mental wellbeing of mothers in the past, will meet with teams who cater for new mothers
As patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, the Princess will learn how teams at the hospital are supporting new and expectant mothers
The Princess accessorised her bright yellow dress with navy suede court stilettos and a navy clutch bag to contrast her outfit
Her Royal Highness brought an instant flash of colour as she stepped out of her car in the bright yellow dress from Karen Millen
An official helped the Princess of Wales out of the car as she arrived at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford where she is visiting the maternity unit
The Princess concluded: ‘It is down to each and every one of us to support parents and carers and all those who are raising children today.’
While speaking with the Jasmine Team, Her Royal Highness learnt about how they team up with local services to support each woman’s individual needs. She will also meet with a mother who has been supported by the team in the past.
The Princess also visited the unit’s Postnatal Bay, which aims to support as many mothers as possible to receive consistent care throughout both pregnancy and childbirth with the same team of midwives.
One of the more sensitive parts of the Princess’s visit was to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), which cares for premature babies and supports their families. She also met with a family whose child was cared for in the unit.
A hospital spokesman said: ‘The SCBU is one of only a few units nationally which has the ability for mothers to remain close to their babies at all times through the provision of around-the-clock cot side sleeping facilities.
‘Staff also encourage parents to take part in the care of their child as much as possible, including bathing, feeding and nappy changing. Evidence demonstrates that the ability for families to develop close and loving relationships at this early stage in their journey is essential for maternal well-being and the long-term physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of their baby.’
At the unit’s postnatal bay, the Princess heard how staff had implemented a pioneering model of care at the hospital by working to ensure that as many mothers as possible received continuity of care during pregnancy and childbirth.
The spokesman added: ‘Being supported by the same team of midwives throughout their journey allows mothers to build positive and trusting relationships with their caregivers, which is particularly important for women from vulnerable backgrounds or with mental health needs.’
Following the visit, the Princess of Wales used her joint Instagram account with her husband to praise the unit.
Posting a photo of herself cradling baby Bianca, she wrote: ‘With a focus on maternal mental health, alongside pioneering overnight facilities, Royal Surrey County Hospital ensures women and their families feel safe, supported and have the best chance of developing those all-important early attachments which are so crucial to ensuring their babies grow and thrive.
‘It was lovely to meet some of the new mothers and their babies who are supported by such a brilliant team at the hospital.’
Last week, Kate made her first appearance since the Queen’s funeral alongside her husband Prince William as they visited Anglesey for a whirlwind visit of the nation.
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