While many might assume that being a member of the royal family comes with any number of privileges, the reality is not always quite so glamorous.
Being part of the Firm means adhering to a set of defined rules. Be it strict behavioural, travel or dress codes, there is less room for personal freedoms that people might expect.
One of those strict rules comes in the form of baby names. The British monarchy has a clear theme when it comes to naming newborns, with many, particularly those close to the line of accession, bearing monikers of former monarchs.
Meanwhile, those with greater distance to the throne usually have slightly more creative and less traditional names, one example being Princess Eugenie's children, who are called August, Ernest, and Adelaide.
© Princess EugenieAlthough few people know the exact procedures for naming a royal baby, clues from recent births point to recurring themes and rules.
Naming children after their relatives
It's not uncommon for Brits to use their relatives' names as inspiration for newborns. The same is true for the royal family. Princess Charlotte, for example, bears the full title Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.
It's thought that the first part of her name comes from her grandfather, King Charles, and is a female rendition of the name. Elizabeth is, of course, inspired by the late Queen, and Diana comes from her grandmother, the late Princess Diana.
In years gone by, it was normal for royals to have four names in total. Prince William, for instance, carries the full name William Arthur Philip Louis, while his younger brother is officially Henry Charles Albert David. Nowadays, it's more common for royals to have three names.
© Getty ImagesNames that are off-limits
The names of royals who have been disgraced, such as the King's brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, are not typically used going forward.
This year, only 127 babies have been named Andrew so far, the moniker now reaching record-low numbers following the former Duke of York's scandal and connections to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Royal babies aren't typically given a surname and are usually only given one if they need it to register something, often when they get married. In such instances, they will probably be given the name Mountbatten-Windsor, a name that combines Prince Philip's adopted surname, Mountbatten, and Elizabeth's house name, Windsor.
© Getty ImagesPrince William and Kate Middleton's children use Wales as their surname while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle use Sussex, according to their respective official titles.
Meanwhile, Princess Eugenie, who is further down the line to the throne, uses Brooksbank, her husband's surname, for her children. While there is no rule banning an heir from naming their offspring after a colour or city, those closest to the throne will typically use traditional names with more historical weight.
Previous reports suggested that the Queen would usually have an informal conversation with the parents, during which she would veto any monikers she didn't approve of.
Royal commentator Kate Williams said in 2018: "The Queen has the power to say what their title is—she'll decree that they are the Prince of Cambridge. But in the case of names, it is more of an informal conversation."
