Prince George almost had a very different name - but unexpected family member stepped in

Two days after the birth of the first son of Prince William and Princess Kate on July 22, 2013, royal fans were delighted to finally discover the new royal baby's name - Prince George Alexander Louis. While we cannot imagine Prince George with any other name nowadays, it would appear that his mother "had her heart set" on another name.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, Alexander was a clear favourite for Kate and was seriously considered as a first name. Ultimately, while Alexander didn't make it as the first name, it was chosen as George's first middle name. The name George was a nod to royal legacy, particularly King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II and great-grandfather to Prince George.

The royal expert explained: "Courtiers insisted the pair had not found out the sex of their unborn baby, and friends close to the couple claim William wanted a surprise. Although Kate apparently suspected it was a boy and had set her heart on the name Alexander, they had not yet decided what to call their firstborn."

There were also reports that Prince William and Kate's beloved late dog Lupo helped to choose Prince George's name. According to The Times, they reportedly wrote all the possible names on scraps of paper and put them on the floor of their home.

They then let Lupo in to see which piece of paper he went over to - and it is thought he picked George.

Unfortunately, Lupo died in November 2020, and Prince William and Catherine shared the sad news on their Instagram account. They said: "Very sadly last weekend our dear dog, Lupo, passed away. He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much. - W & C"

It is also reported Prince George has an unusual nickname. He is sometimes called "PG" or "PG Tips", inspired by the tea brand. The nickname originated from classmates at his school, who shortened his name, Prince George, to "PG." Some sources report that his parents, William and Kate, then adopted the nickname "Tips".

Prince George will no doubt be feeling excited this week as he celebrates his 12th birthday tomorrow.

The eldest son of the Wales family was christened on Wednesday, 23rd October 2013 at The Chapel Royal, St James's Palace by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby.

The young royal, who is currently enjoying the school summer holidays, will most likely spend his special day on Tuesday with his nearest and dearest.