Guest Post – Whoa…That’s a Mouthful

Many of us at birth are traditionally presented with three names, that being a first, middle and last name, and it would seem that throughout time that this has suited the majority of us just fine.  Of course there are also those with hyphenated last names much like the Mountbatten-Windsor’s.  On the opposite side of the spectrum, many celebrities can not abide by more than one name, opting for a preferred single moniker such as Madonna, Seal, Bono and many others.  But just because they don’t use their last names, doesn’t mean they don’t have one!

The same is true with our more regal friends across the pond!  Some people believe that Prince William does not have a last name and a great many others believe that ‘Wales’ is his last.  At birth, William was born “Prince William of Wales” and while at school, we often saw his name appear in the newspaper as ‘William Wales’, and with the Air Force as ‘Flight Lieutenant William Wales’.  But ‘Wales’ isn’t actually his last name.  In fact, the last name of the current British Royal Family (House of Windsor) is Mountbatten-Windsor. Many royal enthusiasts wait on bated breath for the reveal of the famous April 29^th Marriage Certificate – I’m most certainly one of them.  I reckon many a wager will be determined that day as it will answer what many people are excited to know, that being, on the legal marriage certificate, how are Will and Kate identified?

This leads me to one of the hotter ‘post 4-29’ topics of conversation – the new titles bequeathed to Wills and Katie!  With the bushel of titles that both William and Kate obtained on their wedding day, it’s no wonder we’re all left a bit confused as to what we are to call them hence forth.

Should you wish to send a formal correspondence to the new married couple at their modest home in Anglesey you can address William as His Royal Highness, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron of Carrickfergus (Mountbatten-Windsor optional), K.G. (which stands for Knight of the Garter), and the lovely Kate as Her Royal Highness, Catherine Elizabeth, Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Baroness of Carrickfergus.  Whoa… now that’s a mouthful!

But with all the hype and speculation around their titles and designations, I argue that the most important of all their names are the pet-names they’ve bestowed upon each other… long live “Big Willie and Babykins”!

Guest Blogger ~ Kelly Rachelle Mathews