Although many people believe that Princess Charlotte is the spitting image of her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, to others, the relative she looks most like is Princess Diana, the grandma she never got to meet. It's clear that Will and Harry are working to ensure that their mother's legacy lives on, nearly 30 years after her death, in their own ways. For William, that meant keeping a promise to his mom when it came to naming his only daughter.
More from CafeMom: Prince George Is All Grown Up in New 11th Birthday Portrait Taken by Mom Kate Middleton
Some people believed that Charlotte would be named Diana.
When the palace announced that Will and Kate's second child had been named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, many were surprised, thinking surely the name "Diana" would have come first — but that would have come with pressures of its own.
"Had it been the first name, I think it would have been terrible for the child," royal expert Richard Kay told Vanity Fair at the time. "There would have been constant comparisons with Diana, and William wouldn’t have wanted that."
Diana as Charlotte's middle name took off some of that pressure.
"This way it’s a tribute to his mother and a way of ensuring Diana is always remembered," Kay added.
It's true — it pays tribute to both Diana and Elizabeth, two influential women in William's life and upbringing. And then, when Harry and Meghan welcomed their daughter into the world years later, they were able to do the same, naming their little girl Lilibet Diana.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
This may have been William's way of keeping a vow he made to his mother before her death.
According to what Diana's friend, Simone Simmons, said around the time Charlotte was born, William choosing his daughter's middle name was an especially important way to pay tribute to his mother.
"When Diana was alive, William promised her when he was King [that] Diana would have her HRH restored. This is his way of doing it," Simmons said.
More from CafeMom: Prince Harry Is Getting a Heckuva Lot of Money for His 40th Birthday
Queen Elizabeth may have even encouraged William to choose the name.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward pointed out to Vanity Fair at the time that the Queen was likely happy to give her approval for the name.
"The Queen perhaps feels that Diana hasn’t been acknowledged enough, and this is a wonderful way of doing so," Seward said.
In the end, the name seems to suit Charlotte perfectly.
It's hard to imagine her with any other name at this point, after all. And even though there was never any chance of the world forgetting about Princess Diana and all the positive differences she made and people she impacted while she was alive, her granddaughter sharing her name is a lovely way to continue the legacy.
