05 August 2023 , 15:54
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Prince William and Kate Middleton named their youngest son Prince Louis after they were inspired by the Royal Family's "secret weapon."
The couple decided to follow a long line of tradition and pay homage to Lord Louis Mountbatten, who has influenced the names of many other royals including Lady Louise Windsor.
Lord Louis, who was born as Prince Louis of Battenberg, is a popular figure within the monarchy and created a strong bond with his godson King Charles III, whom he treated as a mentee.
The pair were so close that King Charles decided to use 'Louis' as a middle name for his first son. Prince William eventually followed suit by deciding to use the moniker as Prince George's third name and as Prince Louis' first name.
Kate and William's youngest son has a name with special significance (Getty Images)
Louis with mum Kate in May 2023 (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Prince Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas was born at Frogmore House on the Windsor Estate on June 25, 1900 to Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, reports OK! Magazine.
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He was known as Prince Louis of Battenberg until the outbreak of World War One. After King George V announced that he was changing the Royal Family's surname from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor, his German relatives did the same and adopted more British-sounding names. The Battenberg family chose 'Mountbatten' as their new last name.
Having been educated at Royal Naval College in Osborne, Louis embarked on a career in the Royal Navy which would last his entire life. He would eventually take on vital roles such as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral of the Fleet and Chief of the Defence Staff.
Prince Charles and Lord Mountbatten were close (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)Lord Louis married heiress Edwina Ashley in 1922 and the couple had two daughters, Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess of Burma and Lady Pamela Hicks.
The couple were famously unfaithful to one another, with Louis Mountbatten even recalling: "Edwina and I spent all our married lives getting into other people's beds."
One of the most important roles Louis Mountbatten played was getting his nephew, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (then Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) to meet King George VI's daughter, Princess Elizabeth. Lord Louis also served as a mentor to his godson, Charles, and referred to him as his "honorary grandson".
The family at the RAF Fairford in July (Getty Images)On August 27, 1979, Lord Mountbatten was with his family at Classiebawn Castle in Northern Ireland and went out on a trip to go lobster potting in the harbour at Mullaghmore.
The IRA had attached a radio-controlled bomb to his boat the night before and detonated it when he was aboard with several others, including his twin grandsons, Nicholas and Timothy Knatchbull.
Lord Mountbatten's funeral was held at Westminster Abbey and he is buried at Romsey Abbey in Hampshire, near his family home of Broadlands.
Louis Mountbatten and then Prince Charles seen talking to race car driver Graham Hill (Getty Images)In honour of his memory, King Charles made one of Prince William's middle names 'Louis'. This tradition was carried on by The Prince and Princess of Wales as they named their first son, George Alexander Louis.
The couple also named their youngest son Louis to keep in with this trend and as a sweet nod to the King who was incredibly close with Lord Mountbatten.
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Other royals whose names include a touching link to Louis Mountbatten include Prince Edward, Princess Anne and a number of extended members of the Royal Family.