Queen Elizabeth II has very sadly passed away today, which means Prince Charles is now the King of England. But while you might assume he'll go down in history as King Charles (or more specifically, King Charles III), that isn't necessarily the case.
Apparently, it's common for potential monarchs to switch things up before formally hopping on the throne, and Charles could start going by a completely different name.
^ "Hey ladies. The name's Charles. Or at least, it is for now."
Former Buckingham Palace press spokesperson Dickie Arbiter (who, if you're a royal nerd like me, you'll known is the father of royal reporter Victoria Arbiter) tells Hello! that Charles could go by one of his middle names once he ascends the throne. "He might choose one of his other names Philip, Arthur, or George," Arbiter explains.
Again, as Hello! notes, Charles would hardly be the first king to make this call. In fact his grandfather King George VI was actually named Albert. And King Edward VII was also named Albert.
First of all, so many Alberts. Second of all, can you imaging getting a new job and having to just casually change your identity?
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm, She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.Â
