Prince George may be called a different name when he becomes King – and it’s down to an old royal tradition

PRINCE George is second in line for the throne - but could use a different name entirely when he becomes King.

It’s all down to an age-old tradition which has seen some British monarchs opt to be known by something other than their first name when they are crowned.

Previous members of the Firm have chosen to be formally sworn in using their middle names instead.

This means that King Charles III could have chosen to go by King Arthur, King Philip or King George, which are his middle names. 

This would have then become his “Regnal name”.

However, he decided to stick with his given first name for his reign.

His mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was born as Elizabeth, also stuck with her birth name - and rejected middle names Alexandra and Mary.

But Prince George, currently aged 10, could one day choose to be known as King Alexander or King Louis.

However, due to his younger brother being called Louis, that option could be less likely.

George has so far been a popular name for British monarchs, and he would be the seventh George to reign.

Meanwhile, Prince William's full name is Prince William Arthur Philip Louis - so he has a number of options too.

Former Buckingham Palace press spokesman Dickie Arbiter said in 2005 that he thought Charles could have gone for George as his name.

By doing so, he would have honoured his grandparents, King George VI and the Queen Mother.

Dickie said to BBC: "It would not just be a tribute to his grandfather, but a sort of loving memory to his late grandmother, whom he absolutely adored.

"When she died in 2002, he was absolutely devastated."

However, Prince George may be able to fulfil that tribute to his great-great-grandparent when his turn comes around.

It has been claimed George was only sat down by his parents and told he would one day become king on his seventh birthday.  

Royal author Robert Lacey wrote in Battle of Brothers that William wanted to delay telling George the magnitude of what is to come.

Robert claimed: "From George's earliest days, William made no secret of his wish to spare his firstborn the casual initiation - or non-initiation - that he felt he had suffered as a child."

It is said William wants to reveal his future with the Palace gradually to George so he still gets a relatively normal childhood.