British press hails choice of royal baby's name

In this Tuesday, July 23, 2013 photo, Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge hold the Prince of Cambridge, as they pose for photographers outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London where the Duchess gave birth on Mond
In this Tuesday, July 23, 2013 photo, Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge hold the Prince of Cambridge, as they pose for photographers outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London where the Duchess gave birth on Monday July 22. -- FILE PHOTO: AP

LONDON (AFP) - Britain's press on Thursday gave their seal of approval to Prince William and his wife Kate's decision to name their newborn baby boy George Alexander Louis, saying it had "kingly authority".

"The baby formally known as George Alexander Louis of Cambridge", said the Sun's headline, a pun on pop star Prince's one-time name change.

The Daily Mirror ran with "Boy George" as its headline while the Guardian ran a front-page photograph of the new baby under the words "A boy called George: royal couple choose name fit for a king".

"The baby boy destined to become King George VII," said the Daily Telegraph's headline.

"It is hard to find fault with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's decision," said its editorial.

"It speaks of kingly authority, of solidity and Britishness."

It said Alexander's meaning of "protector of men" was "fitting" and that Louis, although "exotic", was an appropriate tribute to Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, Lord Mountbatten, who was killed in an Irish Republican Army bomb in 1979.

"For the partisans of Ethelred, or Rufus, or Canute, there is always the next generation," it advised.

The Daily Express went for "By George" on its front page, praising the pair for choosing "a noble name used by six previous kings."

The Times' too focussed on the historical significance of the name, saying "Kate and William stick to tradition, by George" in its headline, but also lauded their embrace of modernity.

"They could have been any proud middle-class couple with their newborn baby," it said of Wednesday's public appearance.

"In the years of this Queen's reign the country has changed. The British are more emotional, less restrained, less hierarchical and consequently less deferential," it continued.

"In every way the Duke and Duchess seemed at ease in the Britain of which they will one day be King and Queen."

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