Princess Eugenie May Have Hinted at Her Baby Daughter’s Name Eight Years Ago

Princess Eugenie has finally revealed the name of her newborn daughter — and an unexpected detail from her 2018 wedding has drawn attention to a possible connection that dates back eight years.

On August 17, Eugenie announced that her third child with husband Jack Brooksbank is named Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank. The Princess explained that the name was chosen to honour “three people we love and admire past and present.”

While Elizabeth is a clear tribute to Eugenie’s late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, the name Adelaide has an older royal connection. It recalls Queen Adelaide, the wife of King William IV and great-aunt of Queen Victoria.

Intriguingly, Eugenie had already worn historic pieces linked to Queen Adelaide on one of the most important days of her own life.

The Queen Adelaide connection hidden in Eugenie’s wedding

When Eugenie and Jack married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on October 12, 2018, the Princess later changed into a floor-length, long-sleeved gown for the evening reception.

For the occasion, she wore two historic Wheat-Ear Brooches in her hair — jewels she had borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II.

The pieces have a direct connection to Queen Adelaide. According to information previously published on the Palace website, King William IV commissioned the jewels in 1830 for his wife.

The brooches subsequently passed to Queen Victoria in 1837 before becoming part of Queen Elizabeth II’s collection in 1952. The late Queen wore the pieces both as traditional brooches and as hair ornaments.

Eugenie continued that tradition at her wedding, placing two of the historic jewels in her hair for the reception.

The Windsor collection contains six Wheat-Ear pieces, decorated with diamonds set in silver and gold and passed down through generations of the Royal Family.

Eight years later, the name of the Queen associated with those jewels has appeared in a much more personal way in Eugenie’s life.

Why the name Adelaide has royal significance

Nameberry editor-in-chief and baby-name expert Sophie Kihm said Adelaide has strong European and royal associations.

The name is used in English, Italian and Portuguese, making it particularly fitting for Eugenie’s daughter, who was born in Portugal.

Adelaide comes from the German name Adelheidis and means “noble.”

Its British royal connection comes from Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, the German princess who married King William IV and became Queen Adelaide.

Known as “Good Queen Adelaide,” she helped popularise the name in Britain during the early 19th century. The Australian city of Adelaide was also named after her.

Kihm explained that the Brooksbanks’ choice is partly inspired by Queen Adelaide, while also having a connection to Portuguese history through Maria Adelaide, a name associated with two Portuguese women — one a royal and the other a saint.

She also suggested that Adelaide could become more popular in the years ahead, as often happens after royal baby names are announced.

Elizabeth is a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

The newborn’s full name also contains a direct connection to Eugenie’s own family.

Her first middle name, Elizabeth, honours her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

When Eugenie announced her daughter’s name, she said the couple had chosen names connected to three people they “love and admire past and present.” She specifically referred to Adelaide’s late great-grandmother, whom the family continues to hold “close in our hearts.”

The name therefore brings together different generations of royal history while also reflecting the couple’s personal family ties.

Eugenie and Jack welcome their third child

Eugenie and Jack welcomed their daughter on August 3 in Portugal, where the family has lived since 2022.

The couple are already parents to two sons, August, five, and Ernest, three.

They waited two weeks before publicly announcing their daughter’s full name on Instagram. Eugenie described the first days with their new baby as “the most special, cosy and love-filled time.”

She also shared that her two sons have happily taken on their new roles as older brothers.

“Augie and Ernie are already the best big brothers,” she wrote.

But the detail connecting little Adelaide to Eugenie’s past makes the announcement particularly intriguing. Eight years before her daughter was born, Eugenie wore two historic jewels commissioned for Queen Adelaide’s collection at her own wedding reception.

Whether that was simply a meaningful choice of royal jewellery or something more, the connection between the 2018 wedding and the name Adelaide is certainly striking.