Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are a marvelously modern royal couple who aren’t afraid of breaking with tradition.
From shunning the signature birth location of London’s Lindo Wing – made popular by Princess Diana – to choosing a wholly unexpected moniker for their newborn son, Archie Harrison, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made it clear they’re doing things in their own unique way, come what may.
But three decades before H & M welcomed their first child, the royal family were gearing up for the arrival of another bundle of joy.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson married in a resplendent royal wedding at London’s Westminster Abbey in 1986, and two years later Fergie gave birth to their first daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York.
WATCH this video for a look back on Bea’s early years:
The Duke and Duchess of York were trailblazers of their time, shocking royal fans by choosing an unusual name for their little girl.
According to reports from 1988, not a single British punter placed a bet on ‘Beatrice’ to be the royal baby name, with hot favourites including Victoria and Elizabeth after her grandmother the Queen.
But while ‘Bea’ may have seemed a forward thinking, tradition-breaking title for the little princess, in 1988 The Sun newspaper claimed that the Duke of York and his wife actually wanted to call their first daughter Annabel.
The name was reportedly vetoed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who rejected the moniker for being “too yuppie”, Express.co.uk reports.
This decision could have been connected to the name (and reputation) of upscale Mayfair club Annabel’s, a favourite haunt of Andrew, Fergie and other young members of the royal family.
Ironically, Princess Beatrice has been a regular at Annabel’s for many years now, and was recently photographed leaving after hours venue with her mum and new boyfriend, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Flame haired Fergie was branded a “minor social revolutionary” by H.B. Brooks-Baker who also noted the York’s decision to use just two middle names instead of the usual three or four given to children of the House of Windsor.
Princess Beatrice’s full title is Beatrice Elizabeth Mary, given to her in honour of her ancestor Queen Victoria’s youngest child.
Prince Charles, in comparison, was given the full name Charles Philip Arthur George.
Beatrice’s youngest sister Princess Eugenie – full name Eugenie Victoria Helena – was also named after the legendary Queen Victoria.
Her first name honours Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, while her middle name comes from Princess Helena, Queen Victoria’s daughter.
With just one year’s age difference between them, Princesses of York enjoy a famously close bond.
Earlier this week, the royal sisters were spotted on a double date in London’s Notting Hill with Eugenie’s new husband Jack Brooksbank and Bea’s beau Edo.
Eugenie, 29, married Jack in a fairytale royal wedding in October at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Beatrice, 30, has been quietly dating real estate millionaire Edo since late last year, making their official debut as a couple at the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor in May.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
