Kate Middleton, Prince William To Name Royal Baby Girl After Princess Diana: Report

Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are planning to play tribute to Prince William’s late mother, Princess Diana, with their second baby, says one royal biographer. Following reports that Kate Middleton and Prince William had been given permission to name their new child after Queen Elizabeth, longtime royal biographer Andrew Morton is claiming the couple have told friends they also want to honor the late royal. The Daily Mail is reporting that if female, the second royal baby will be named Elizabeth Diana Windsor.

While Middleton and Prince William, both 32, have yet to learn their child’s gender, Morton, 60, says the expectant pair have told friends they’re hoping for a girl to join their son, 14-month-old son Prince George. “They discussed girls’ names before George was born and now they’re hoping the next one is a girl so they can carry out their wish to honor William’s mother,” Morton told the Sun. “They’re not too thrilled at the thought it would be shortened to Princess Di but it won’t change their minds."

Morton’s comments come on the heels of the Globe’s claims that the couple had received approval from the queen to name their child, pending a gender reveal, Elizabeth. “They’ve already told the ailing queen that they believe it’s a girl,” an “inside source” told the Globe magazine. “Like many of us, William and Kate fear the queen doesn’t have long left and want to honor her while she is still alive.” An insider went on to add that her majesty was reportedly “thrilled” by the baby name news. “It’s given her a new lease on life,” said a source.

Buckingham Palace announced that Middleton was expecting on Sept. 8. The Duchess is reportedly due in March or April 2015.

Morton is best known for his 1992 biography on Princess Diana, "Diana: Her True Story."