Royals keep it simple
ARCHIE, just Archie.
Meghan and Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have gone for an informal name for their first-born son.
The royal couple officially revealed his name early yesterday after he had met with the Queen at Windsor Castle, just a short walk from their home at Frogmore Cottage.
His full name is Archie Harrison MountbattenWindsor.
And sticking with the theme, they have chosen not to take up the official title he was offered, the Earl of Dumbarton.
Meghan gave birth to Archie, who weighed 7lbs 3oz (3.26kg), on Monday.
She and Prince Harry seem to be making a tradition of being different with their son’s name, a shortened form of Archibald, throwing the world a curve ball.
Bookmakers had the name at odds of 100/1.
Archie’s second name literally means “son of Harry”.
Things could get a little confusing in the royal household at Christmas time or parties as Prince Harry’s nephew, Prince George, is nicknamed Archie, according to The Sun.
Archie’s name was released on the couple’s Instagram page, which now has 7 million followers, alongside a photograph of the Queen looking delighted at meeting her eighth grandchild.
The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, was also looking on proudly, as was Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland in the picture of the first official meeting.
Speculation over the latest royal baby’s hair colour is yet to be satisfied as he has only been shown in photos wearing a knitted beanie.
If he does inherit his father’s famous red hair, baby Archie will surely be compared to another famous redhead bearing the same moniker. Archie Andrews, of Archie Comics fame, was reinvented in hit television show Riverdale and is played by New Zealand actor KJ Kapa.
Given the Sussexes announced their pregnancy in the lead-up to their New Zealand tour, a nod towards one of their most famous exports would be fitting.
According to Baby Centre, the name Archie enjoyed a surge in popularity following the release of the show in 2017 and it is sure to rise even further now it has the royal stamp of approval.
After the birth of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s youngest son, Prince Louis, 1, his name jumped 17 per cent in popularity.
The names of his siblings, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince George, 5, also jumped significantly in the ranks following their births.
Bookmakers had more traditional names such as Spencer, Alexander and James as frontrunners for Baby Sussex.