On Monday 22nd July 2013, Prince George of Cambridge, the third in line to the throne, was born at Saint Mary's Hospital, London, to draw to a close what seemed like the longest period of labour since Tony Blair's successor Gordon Brown was toppled. A few days later, Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, announced to the world that they had named their son George Alexander Louis. With that kind of name, which places in London may stand out for the new Prince? LondonTown.com investigates...
Moments after the birth, someone in the media world had the bright idea of checking if London had any Prince George pubs - and funnily enough, yes, there was one, albeit one in the not-so-regal borough of Hackney. Soon, newspapers and websites around the globe ran with a photo of the façade of the Prince George pub on Parkholme Road in Dalston - and a major tourist destination was made overnight. The gentrification of the area means that the Prince George is now less of an old man's backstreet local and more of a skinny-jeans-and-ironic-haircut pub filled with arty hipster types who can't afford a wash but can afford to spend a fiver on a pint of ale. That said, it's the kind of place Baby George's uncle Harry would love - and it has to be said, it's probably one of the best boozers in the area - even if it gets so busy on the weekends that a bouncer needs to control the comings and goings on the door. The décor is fun - yellow walls, creaky wooden floor, old stools and benches, world maps and framed vintage posters, stuffed animals in glass cases and a functioning jukebox - and the choice of ales and beers on tap is commendable (Seafarer, Pride, George Gale HSB, Leffe, Hoegaarden). There's a small drinking area out the front with eight tables and some benches, with overhead heaters. The place has recently started serving food too, with the Sunday roasts receiving glowing references. It will be interesting to see if the Prince George gets on the Royal Baby bandwagon - surely a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is a certainty in the future, while you wouldn't rule out a new framed photo making its way onto the walls...
There has never been a King Alexander of England or the UK, although the name will prove particularly popular in Scotland, where Alexander III was regarded as one of the country's greatest rulers back in the thirteenth century. Baby George's second name is thought to be inspired by the Queen's middle name, which is Alexandra. Any parent naming their child Alexander will have considered the phrase 'the Great' appearing immediately afterwards. Given the Greek roots of Baby George's great-grandfather Prince Philip, then allusions to the famous Macedonian king are apt. Interestingly, Alexander the Greata is the name of a taverna-style restaurant in Camden famed for its décor, meze platters and background musical serenades. In the spirit of Alexander the Great the warrior, the restaurant claims to combine traditional Greek hospitality and an all-conquering food and drink menu comprising fine cuisine and delicious local wines. Prices are low and belly dancers often put in an appearance (which would please Uncle Harry). With such hearty hospitality and generous portions, it's no surprise that this is popular with the locals - and while this is by no means the best Greek restaurant in the capital, it's probably better than many of the numerous establishments in the area.
Seemingly more reminiscent of France's old royalty than the British monarchy, the name Louis (pronounced the French was and not 'Lewis') certainly stands out - much like a Hungarian bakery in Hampstead. One of London's oldest coffee and cake shops, Louis Patisserie - despite its name - was founded by Hungarian immigrant Louis Permayer in 1963. It hasn't changed much since - although the old, unsmiling waitresses who would emerge metaphorically from behind the establishment's iron curtain with trollies of creamy, indulgent cakes and dollops of Communist charm have recently been replaced by some younger, chirpier ones (again, Uncle Harry would be pleased). Located a stone's throw from the tube at Hampstead, the Coffee and Tea Room is instantly recognisable by its blue and yellow awning that frames a vitrine filled with even more flamboyant cakes than your average Patisserie Valerie (think cream buns, fluffy slices, gooey eclairs, fruity tarts, almond pretzels, colourful macaroons, marzipan cookies and chocolate cakes). Inside studded brown leather seats, wood panelling, tiny round tables, spherical lights and a garish carpet have, unlike the waitresses, probably not been replaced since Permayer úr arrived in the Sixties. The place still attracts the last remnants of NW3's wartime refugee population from Eastern Europe, especially on Sundays. Louis is a divisive place - some people find it stuffy, stale and expensive, while others revel in its antiquated extravagance, dated décor and unique atmosphere so different to any of London's many coffee shop chains. Whatever the case, you'll need a long session on the Heath afterwards to walk off all those calories. Oh, and Louis makes birthday cakes to order - so can perhaps expect some Royal custom every year in July.
Should our future King and his son fancy decking themselves out in a special father-and-son outfit but eschew the stuffy royal tailors and opt for something more casual and current, then what better place to go to than the William & George boutique on Kingly Street? Nicholas Geller, design director at the men's fashion label, studied fashion design and was a senior menswear designer for several years, producing designs for the likes of Next, River Island, Marks & Spencer and Balmain. At his shop William & George, just off Carnaby Street, the emphasis is on luxury shirts, sold alongside leather bags, men's accessories and suits. They also offer a very reasonable bespoke suit and shirt service with in house tailors on hand to advise you - from the shape and fit to the range of fabrics to choose from. Whether you want the latest two-button, single breasted suit with double back vents - or just something that doesn't make you look as though you're wearing dad's cast-offs - William & George is a great find. Mr Geller is surely onto a winner here and should strike while the iron is hot.
Supposing little George Windsor takes a dislike to his first name and decides he'd prefer to be called Alexander, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have a de facto Prince Alexander on their hands. In this case, then the swanky Mayfair hotel Claridge's would no doubt see a surge of bookings at their sumptuous Prince Alexander Suite. Blessed with fresh, light colours, the elegantly traditional suite has a contemporary feel to it and boasts a musical theme throughout, not least with its magnificent Broadwood grand piano and a host of renowned musical guests including Daniel Barenboim and Andre Previn. Sheet music to suit all levels is provided, meaning guests can play the piano themselves - as long as they have £1080 to stump up for the rest of the night. Regal prices, if we don't mind saying so.
Louis is not only one of Prince William's middle names but also one of the middle names of baby George's grandfather, Prince Charles. All three seem to be a nod to Louis Mountbatten, the great-grandson of Queen Victoria and Prince Charles' great uncle, the last British viceroy of India, who was assassinated by the IRA in 1979. There is a portrait of 'Uncle Dickie', as Louis was affectionately known in the family, by John Ulbricht at the National Portrait Gallery. A short walk away, in the British Museum, there is also a marble portrait of Alexander the Great. Thought to be from Alexandria, Egypt, the sculpture shows a youthful image of the conqueror king. Alexander is also shown clean-shaven, which was an innovation at the time (all previous portraits of Greek statesmen or rulers had beards). Perhaps this is a sign? When he comes to the throne, George VII could be the first bearded monarch since George V, who reigned from 1910 to 1936.
There is an equestrian statue commemorating Prince George, the Second Duke of Cambridge, on Whitehall outside the War Office in front of Horse Guards Parade. Grandson of King George III, the German-born Prince was a military man, serving as commander-in-chief of the British army for 39 years before his death of a stomach haemorrhage in 1904. George's title, Duke of Cambridge, fell into extinction upon his death and was not revived until 2011 when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded the title to her grandson, Prince William, on the day of his wedding. In bizarre scenes in November 2012, a naked Ukrainian man climbed the statue and snapped off George's hand and sword before being coaxed down by police three hours later. The man struck a series of bizarre poses including balancing acrobatically, his arms out-stretched, upon the Duke's feathered plume, before sitting on his head. It's clearly not just King George III who was a little mad...
When baby George becomes a young man, there's no doubt he'll be very style-conscious. Perhaps a visit to his namesake of a street in Marylebone will be on the cards. The Monocle shop on George Street is a spin-off of the eponymous magazine, the hefty tome edited by Tyler Brule that delivers high-brow culture for well-to-do business people. The shop stocks a range of designer items from the likes of Porter, Comme des Garçons, Orlebar Brown and Valextra - plus a handful of exclusive, limited-edition luxuries designed just for Monocle. There's a host of high-end products from scents to books, watches to boxer shorts as well as a selection of cool and cultured music, DVDs and magazines. When baby George is in the hunt to buy his first London flat, then he could well be sentimental and call on the services of the renowned George Alexander estate agents based in Fitzrovia. Of course, before then, he may like to brush up on his French - so a visit to the European Bookshop in Piccadilly to pick up a copy of Saint Exupery's Le Petit Prince could be a good start.
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