PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have revealed the name of their newborn son: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
"The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were introduced to the newborn son of The Duke & Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle. Ms Doria Ragland was also present," the Royal Family tweeted this afternoon.
"The Duke & Duchess of Sussex are delighted to announce that they have named their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor."
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were introduced to the newborn son of The Duke & Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle. Ms Doria Ragland was also present. The Duke & Duchess of Sussex are delighted to announce that they have named their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. pic.twitter.com/PaHVhPlUl5
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) 8 May 2019
The news certainly comes as a surprise – the names Archie and Harrison were absent from the bookies' favourites prior to the announcement, with oddsmakers instead backing names such as Spencer, Alexander and Arthur.
The name is thought to be a partial tribute to Lord Louis Mountbatten – Prince Charles' mentor who was murdered by the IRA off the west coast of Ireland in 1979.
Mountbatten was a major influence on Charles during his formative years as the Prince of Wales, offering counsel on everything from his social excursions to his lovelife.
Little Archie made his very first public appearance at a photocall alongside a thrilled Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the grounds of Windsor Castle earlier on Wednesday afternoon.
The sleepy Baby Sussex was lovingly cradled by adoring dad Harry, 34, as Meghan, 37, watched on with a smile, telling journalists: "I have the two best guys in the world".
The American former actress added: "It's magic, it's pretty amazing. He's just been the dream so it's been a special couple of days.
"He has the sweetest temperament, he's really calm".
As the couple giggled with excitement, Harry quipped: "I don't know who he gets that from!"
Archie is seventh in line to the throne after his grandfather Prince Charles, his uncle Prince William and his three children, and Prince Harry himself.
He is also the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's eighth great-grandchild and the Prince of Wales's fourth grandchild.
Asked who little Archie takes after most, Meghan said: "We're still trying to figure that out".
Harry added: "Everyone says that babies change so much over two weeks we're basically monitoring how the changing process happens over this next month really. But his looks are changing every single day, so who knows.
"It's great. Parenting is amazing. It's only been two and a half days, three days, but we're just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy."
The Duke and Duchess welcomed Archie into the world in the early hours of Monday, May 6 – almost exactly 12 months after their marriage in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.
'Archie' is historically a shortened version of the English name 'Archibald' – which is composed of the Germanic elements ercan, meaning "genuine" and bald, meaning "bold" or "brave".
'Harrison' literally means the son of someone called Harry, so no prizes for guessing the inspiration behind that one!
