Why Princess Beatrice's reported original 'yuppie' name was vetoed by Queen Elizabeth

It took two weeks for Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson to announce Princess Beatrice's name, reportedly due to the Queen's rejection of their original choice 
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Megan C. Hills22 July 2019

As ninth in line to the throne, Prince Andrew's daughter Princess Beatrice leads a relatively normal life in comparison to her cousin Prince Harry, pursuing a day job at a tech firm called Afiniti.

But Royal Family traditions have still governed her life, including the name she was given, which Queen Elizabeth had to approve when she was born. Now new reports suggest Beatrice’s original moniker was vetoed by the monarch.

Articles dating back to her birth in 1988 have re-entered the public eye again following reporting by the Daily Mail and Express and allege the name Beatrice was not the first choice of her parents Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. The Associated Press wrote in the 1980s that an unnamed newspaper had claimed that ahead of Princess Beatrice’s birth, Prince Andrew said the “baby would be a girl named Annabel”.

Sarah Ferguson poses with Princess Beatrice at her christening (Tim Graham Photo Library via Get)
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

The Express claimed that some royal fans had speculated Annabel was a reference to a club close to Fergie and Andrew’s hearts: celebrity-favourite members' club Annabel’s.

But Princess Annabel never happened as Queen Elizabeth reportedly rejected the name on the grounds that it was too “yuppie”, according to The Sun.

Instead, Queen Elizabeth is believed to have suggested Beatrice as an option, perhaps in tribute to Queen Victoria’s child Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore who was born in 1857. The Sun also reported via Associated Press that “the name was royal enough for the Queen but unusual enough to please Sarah [Ferguson]”.

Getty Images

Princess Beatrice’s full name is Beatrice Elizabeth Mary. Her second name Elizabeth is reportedly in honour of the Queen.

While it took just a couple of days for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to announce the name of their son Archie Mountbatten Windsor (much to the delight of the internet’s Riverdale fans), it took two weeks before Princess Beatrice’s name was unveiled.

Princess Beatrice with her sister Princess Eugenie
Getty Images

At the time, Malcolm Palmer of betting agency Coral told AP that the name came as “a bit of a surprise for everybody” and said, “Victoria and Elizabeth were the two favourites”.

AP also reported that Annabel was a clear favourite with those betting on the name and “not a single bet” was placed on Beatrice at William Hill or Coral.

Princess Beatrice has a younger sister named Princess Eugenie, who was recently married to Casamigos ambassador Jack Brooksbank. She is currently dating real estate developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank official wedding photos

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