Queen Elizabeth Changed Princess Beatrice’s Name

Princess Beatrice, the oldest child of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, has grown into a lovely woman, wife, and mother. Surprisingly, her name was never meant to be Beatrice. Her parents initially had a completely different name in mind, which Queen Elizabeth II reportedly disliked.

As an informal tradition, royal family members shared their name choices for new babies with Queen Elizabeth to get her blessing. Normally, the queen approved without any issues. It’s unclear if King Charles III is continuing this tradition, especially with his current health concerns.

When Princess Beatrice was born, her parents informed the queen of their chosen name, but she immediately disapproved. The name announcement was delayed for two weeks as Prince Andrew and Ferguson struggled to choose an alternative. Eventually, Queen Elizabeth herself suggested a name that was more sentimental than the initial choice.

Originally, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, planned to name their firstborn Annabel. However, Queen Elizabeth was not a fan, reportedly dismissing the name as too “yuppie,” implying it sounded like a young spoiled brat eager to live lavishly. The queen felt the name didn’t meet royal standards.

Queen Elizabeth suggested the name Beatrice, inspired by Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter. Prince Andrew and Ferguson accepted the suggestion and added Elizabeth and Mary as middle names, paying homage to Queen Elizabeth, her mother, and the queen’s grandmother, Mary of Teck.

Princess Beatrice later honored Queen Elizabeth by naming her first child with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Sienna Elizabeth. Many other royals have also paid tribute by including Elizabeth as a middle name, such as Princess Charlotte, daughter of William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales.

While several royal children have Queen Elizabeth II’s name in one form or another, few shared a bond like the one between Princess Beatrice and the queen. The queen even gifted Beatrice and her sister Eugenie a mansion for Beatrice’s ninth birthday, which Sarah Ferguson respectfully had the girls return.

In a 2017 interview with Hello, Princess Beatrice expressed admiration for her grandmother, saying, “I find my grandmother inspiring every day because her overwhelming sense of duty is linked with an overwhelming curiosity. She goes out into the community with a genuine curiosity as to how she can be a force for good in the world.”

Princess Beatrice honored her grandmother by revamping the queen’s vintage 1962 Norman Hartnell gown for her bridal gown. Although their wedding took place in 2020 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip emerged from isolation to support their granddaughter on her big day.