And so to William and Katharine, a daughter. The names are appropriate and are being welcomed with general approval. There is a precedent for Charlotte in the royal family (George III's wife was named Charlotte) and it is not only also the feminine of Charles (grandfather) but satisfies the Middleton family because it is Kate's sister Phillipa's middle name and also the name of her maternal grandmother. Elizabeth is obviously in recognition of great grandma and Diana has met with universal approval all over the country. Her full title will be Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.
All babies are wonderful news, but our newest princess's gender is especially welcome because of a small, but significant tweak in our constitutional pecking order. She is the first female Royal born with equal rights of succession and slots straight in at fourth in line to the throne displacing one uncle and two great uncles.
The law changing these rules only came into force a few weeks ago. It would have sparked many an argument if she had arrived early, I'm sure.
But it is a significant change when you put it into the context that Queen Elizabeth would never have acceded to the throne if she'd had a baby brother and Princess Anne was bumped down the line of succession when Andrew and Edward were born. And so little Charlotte, barely a few days old, is already a symbol of justice.
She's a bonny little thing isn't she..? I'm sure we'll see a lot more of her.
May 05, 2015 @ 14:57:48
