We’re all used to hearing the name Princess Beatrice now, but did you know it nearly wasn’t her name at all?
Back in 1988, when Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson welcomed their first child, they had a very different name in mind. And it wasn’t Beatrice.
What changed? Well, it turns out the late Queen Elizabeth II had the final say — and she gave their first choice a royal veto.
A Royal Baby Without a Name for Two Weeks
Princess Beatrice was born on August 8, 1988, but her name wasn’t shared with the public straight away.
In fact, it took two whole weeks before the world found out what she would be called. During that time, there was a national guessing game.
Bookmakers were flooded with bets, and the public waited eagerly.
Plenty of names were being thrown around. The front-runner? Annabel.
Prince Andrew had reportedly mentioned the name in May that year, and it stuck in people’s minds.
Other strong contenders included Charlotte and Victoria — both solid, classic royal names.
No One Saw “Beatrice” Coming
When the name Beatrice was finally announced, it caught everyone off guard.
Not a single bet had been placed on it at two of the UK’s biggest bookmakers. At the time, William Hill said: “It’s terrific. We couldn’t have chosen a better name.”
Meanwhile, Coral admitted: “It is a bit of a surprise for everybody. Victoria and Elizabeth were the two favorites.”
Only The Sun newspaper got it right. They reported early on that Beatrice was the name — and they also spilled the tea on why Annabel didn’t make the cut.
Why the Queen Said No to Annabel
According to The Sun, Annabel really was Sarah and Andrew’s top choice. But Queen Elizabeth reportedly wasn’t a fan.
She thought the name was too “yuppie” — a term that, back then, suggested something trendy, flashy, and not quite royal enough.
And since royal baby names need the monarch’s approval, Annabel was off the table.
While we may never know exactly what rubbed the Queen the wrong way about the name, what we do know is that she offered an alternative — one that had strong royal roots.
The Meaning and Royal History Behind “Beatrice”
It was Queen Elizabeth who suggested the name Be
atrice, inspired by Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter. Not only did it come with historical significance, but it also had a lovely meaning — derived from Latin, it translates to “one who brings joy.”
For Sarah Ferguson, that seemed to strike the right balance.
It was unique enough to satisfy her personal taste, and regal enough to pass the Queen’s standards. And just like that, Princess Beatrice had her name — a royal blend of tradition and individuality.