King Charles III

[LadyEloise1]

Any historians can help please - I wonder why the late Queen Elizabeth (RIP) and Prince Philip named their first born son and heir to the throne , Charles. Considering the Charles 1&2 were not the most illustrious of the British monarchs - Charles 1 was executed and Charles II was involved in a civil war. I find it odd.
Apparently the Queen adored her Dad, regnal name George VI but christened Albert and called Bertie. So why not George or Albert ?
Or Philip after his Dad ?
Philip's father was Andrew and his father was George 1 of Greece.
Did the Queen ever say why she chose it ?
Was it speculated on when Charles was born ?

Bertie is a shortened form of Albert. Has Jarry is for Henry. Many monarchs choose to take on a different name as King/Queen, so Charles could have chosen to.

it doesn’t really matter does it?

Philip would be out as it is not a British royal name. Traditionally it was a Spanish (Catholic) name and Philip was Greek.

I thought he was expected to go with King George?

Charles II was known as the merry monarch and was very popular for bringing Christmas celebrations back after Puritanical Oliver Cromwell restricted celebrations.

King of Bling

I’ve been singing this all afternoon 😆

Maybe she just liked the name? Good call for Charles to go for Charles III rather than George VII. It's hard enough getting used to saying King Charles let alone King George!

Third time lucky?

Does it really matter why she chose his name

Maybe she just liked the name same as any mother

Charles II came to the throne after the Civil War.

Charles I was the king involved in the Civil War, Charles II was the Restoration.

She probably just liked the name. Also it was traditional for monarchs to take a different name when they came to the throne, so it was probably expected that he would be known as something else

Charles II restored the monarchy after the Taliban-like era of Oliver Cromwell. He wasn't involved in a civil war but presided over a reasonably prosperous and comfortable country. He was popular. And fairly competent despite the fact the country was somewhat broke.
The Hanoverian Georges were much more rackety. The Henrys were mostly a bit grim, or very grim in the case Henry VIII. The Williams are rather Meh. Those are the options really so Charles is as good as any, given that it can only really be William, Henry, George, or Charles.

Or Edward. Forgot Edward. She wasn't likely to call her first born after Uncle David aka Edward VIII let the side down.

The Williams are rather Meh

William II was a bit of a character. And William IV had 10 children by an actress and lived with her and them in contented domesticity until he had to get married.

I've read that the Queen and Prince Philip just liked the name Charles. It's also interesting that Charles and Anne are both Stuart-era names, although probably coincidental.

But William III aka King Billy is, to say the least, an iffy individual in Northern Ireland, and he was a horrid man, though politically astute on his own behalf.
William IV's main claim to fame is his relationship with Mrs Jordan, but he was otherwise not very thrilling being a bluff ex-sailor and not very bright. Queen Victoria was fairly fond of him, but largely because he wasn't as monstrously awful as her other Hanoverian uncles.

I and II were French and a long time ago. William the Fifth doesn't roll of the tongue, though.
Charles is a good name. The Stuarts have a bit of glamour about them, and were cleverer than some dynasties, even if sometimes staggeringly inept (Looking at you, James II).

Charles is non-Hanoverian and a nod to the Stewarts. Puts to rest the Jacobite issue somewhat.

There is also no dispute over the regnal number in both England and Scotland. For example, English Postboxes have EIIR. Scottish ones simply ER as some EIIR ones were vandalised. Charles will simply be CIIIR everywhere.

I always thought that Charles was from the Queen Mother's family but I don't know if that's true.

I’m now imagining Princess Elizabeth posting on MN Baby names for advice!

Charles II founded the Royal Hospital Chelsea - wonder if this Charles will take an active interest?

(I think it gets monarch as its head by some ancient act of parliament, but that doesn't mean any individual monarch has to actually do anything - QEII visited pensioners every few years (at least once a decade) as well as passing through, en route to the Flower Show including this year)

I was thinking of that song too. have you heard this?

twitter.com/bonnythorne/status/1567918513246928896?s=21&t=No6zjbye02mec89tB7Tqjw

I hope the link works.