Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank have announced the name of their newborn daughter, Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank, two weeks after her birth. The princess shared the news on Instagram, along with photographs of Adelaide with her older brothers August and Ernest.
Name announcement and family tribute
In her Instagram post, Eugenie wrote: “Two weeks ago today we welcomed our girl to the world. And since then we've had the most special, cosy and love-filled time. We are so happy to share Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank. Named after three people we love and admire past and present, including her Great-Grandmother who we hold close in our hearts. Her name is part of English and Portuguese history, two places we love and call home. Augie and Ernie are already the best big brothers.”
While Eugenie did not give her daughter her mother Sarah Ferguson’s name as a middle name, it is believed that the name is a nod to Sarah regardless. This is because Eugenie seems to have followed Sarah’s tradition of giving children names related to Queen Victoria.
Historical name connections
Adelaide was the name of Queen Victoria's aunt by marriage – Queen Adelaide. Adelaide also appeared in the names of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Victoria, The Princess Royal, and it was the second name of Queen Mary's mother Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. It is also believed the newborn’s name was inspired by Maria Adelaide of Portugal.
Adelaide’s middle name Elizabeth is a nod to Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Eugenie’s grandmother who she was very close with. It is believed Adelaide’s other middle name Annina is inspired by an unknown family connection.
Family tradition continues
This is not the first time Eugenie has followed her mother’s tradition of naming children with links to Queen Victoria. Her son August’s name was believed to have been inspired by one of the names of Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert, as he was christened as Franz Albert August Karl Emanuel. Eugenie and Jack’s other son Ernest is believed to also follow the tradition, with Ernest being the first name of Queen Victoria's brother-in-law Duke Ernest of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
Princess Eugenie herself was named by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson using names inspired by Queen Victoria. Her first name was reportedly inspired by Queen Victoria’s granddaughter Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg. Eugenie’s middle names are Victoria, a nod to Queen Victoria, and Helena, which is believed to be a nod to Queen Victoria's third daughter.
Eugenie has not confirmed that she has followed the family tradition set out by Sarah in naming her newborn girl, but it could be considered an olive branch. It has been rumoured that Sarah, who has been keeping a low profile since scandals involving the Epstein Files last year, has been in Portugal helping her daughter and son-in-law adapt to life as parents of three children.
