# Can Prince Charles (UK) Choose Any Name When He Becomes King? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 3, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351 "2010-11-03T17:43:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/41 "2010-11-03T21:38:50Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > perhaps nigel? reginald? harold? > > it is amazing how many names are “right out”, rather difficult to name a heir to the crown. > > just go with a name and make your own history with it. Here’s what Elizabeth II came up with for her children: Charles Philip Arthur George Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise Andrew Albert Christian Edward Edward Antony Richard Louis So she used Edward twice, and Louise/Louis is a very close pair. She also used some that would be pretty odd as the name of a British monarch – Christian, Antony (King Tony anyone?) and Louis. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/42 "2010-11-03T21:41:01Z")
Well, the given names of the first 12 heirs in the line of succession: 1. Charles Philip Arthur George 2. William Arthur Philip Louis 3. Henry Charles Albert David 4. Andrew Albert Christian Edward 5. Beatrice Elizabeth Mary 6. Eugenie Victoria Helena 7. Edward Antony Richard Louis 8. James Alexander Philip Theo 9. Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary 10. Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise 11. Peter Mark Andrew 12. Zara Anne Elizabeth ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/43 "2010-11-03T21:45:25Z")
I wish we could look forward to Queen Zara. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/44 "2010-11-03T21:50:05Z")
Well, if Ohio goes to a monarchy, you could perhaps import her. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/45 "2010-11-03T21:51:25Z")
Louis is now firmly enshrined in the royal family lexicon of names, for a pretty good reason: Prince Philip’s uncle, Earl Mountbatten of Burma and the closest thing any of the Queen’s kids knew to a grandfather (Charles and Anne barely knew George VI before his death; the other two were born years after it). His father was also a Lord Louis Mountbatten, on a side branch of the royal family. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/46 "2010-11-03T21:52:29Z")
> [@](#): > > I would not have thought that Arthur, Prince of Wales, would have spoiled the name. He died at the age of 15 more than 500 years ago, and his main contribution to history was his widow marrying his younger brother – which led to problems between the Church of England and the Church of Rome. The problem really would be associations with the legendary King Arthur – and that association might be positive, on the whole. I gather that, to Brits, a modern King Arthur would feel about the same way that a Pope Peter would to Catholics. There’s only one Pope Peter, and tradition has it that there will only ever be two, that the last Pope will also be named Peter. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/47 "2010-11-03T22:03:45Z")
nevermind ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/48 "2010-11-03T22:19:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I gather that, to Brits, a modern King Arthur would feel about the same way that a Pope Peter would to Catholics. There’s only one Pope Peter, and tradition has it that there will only ever be two, that the last Pope will also be named Peter. The odds aren’t bad that the next king of England would indeed be the last king, after which they abolish the monarchy. So Arthur might be the most appropriate of all names. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/49 "2010-11-03T22:31:01Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > … > I wonder if Catherine or Anne might be ready to make a comeback? > … Catherine’s a great name! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/50 "2010-11-03T22:40:17Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The odds aren’t bad that the next king of England would indeed be the last king, after which they abolish the monarchy. So Arthur might be the most appropriate of all names. Charles as the last King? Nah. There’s no real republican sentiment in most of the UK. And the position isn’t “King of England” FYI. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/51 "2010-11-03T22:50:28Z")
All hail King Billy-Bob! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/52 "2010-11-03T23:12:33Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Robert is too closely associated with Scottish independence. But might be used to try to save the union. > [@](#): > > Alexander and Nicholas are too czarist. Alexander has a long Scottish connection. > [@](#): > > Paul, Peter, Samuel, Aaron, Jonathan, Daniel, David and other excessively Biblical names wouldn’t fly David and Donald and Kenneth were Scottish regnal names. See [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scottish_monarchs). ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/53 "2010-11-04T00:31:18Z")
King Chuck. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/54 "2010-11-04T00:32:21Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Charles as the last King? Nah. There’s no real republican sentiment in most of the UK. And the position isn’t “King of England” FYI. Good point. FTR, [the last King of England](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VI_of_England). (Although a case could be made that James I and VI, Charles I, Charles II, James II and VII, and Wiiliam III and II, could be counted.) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/55 "2010-11-04T00:32:35Z")
Pexall, Bevil, Fernandino…Mencus? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/56 "2010-11-04T00:48:18Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > I’ve seen this statement before, but I remember reading that Victoria decreed that henceforth all of the males in direct line to the throne should be given the name Albert, because she wanted the name to be used. I think she would have been thrilled with a bunch of King Alberts. The family obeyed her until Elizabeth didn’t give Charles the name. > > Edward VII was known as Prince Albert Edward, and I thought Victoria wanted him to become King Albert Edward, but he decided not to do it after her death, because a double name wasn’t British custom. I think he used the excuse of honoring the name Albert by not using it? Which is funny because Edward VII was called “Bertie” by family and close friends. (I think too is that he hated the constant comparison to his father and older sister) The really amusing thing to is that George VI was also known as Prince Albert, (and called Bertie) as his younger brother, the Duke of Kent, was Prince George. Queen Victoria was called “Drina” as a child. I LOVE royalty history. It really is fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/57 "2010-11-04T01:00:01Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Charles as the last King? Nah. There’s no real republican sentiment in most of the UK. And the position isn’t “King of England” FYI. ``` There's no republican sentiment while the Queen lives, she is immensly respected with approval ratings a President/PM would kill for. But they are just her ratings. I remember reading back in the nineties republicans saying well until the queen dies we might as well go into retirement because we're never going to abolish the monarchy while QE2 is reigning. What happens when adulterous, plant talking, homeopath believing, modern world hating, tampax wannabee, Charles takes the throne is another matter. He is not well liked. Probably the best course of action he could take to secure the monarchy is to decline the throne when his mother dies and let William take the throne. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/58 "2010-11-04T01:19:31Z")
Meh, he’s nothing compared to his great-great grandfather. Edward VII was a total slut. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/59 "2010-11-04T01:24:07Z")
> [@DeptfordX](#): > > ``` > What happens when adulterous, plant talking, homeopath believing, modern world hating, tampax wannabee, Charles takes the throne is another matter. He is not well liked. > > ``` Well, we’ll see. It would need a republican-minded party to be elected with a majority for a start. Perhaps you could tell us where that party is going to come from? ETA: added “-minded” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351/60 "2010-11-04T01:43:17Z")
My vote would be for him to choose to be Æthelstan II. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-prince-charles-uk-choose-any-name-when-he-becomes-king/559351.md?page=4)