Prince George tells a surprised dog walker that he is actually called Archie

PRINCE George has told a stranger that his name is Archie - sparking a mystery over whether it’s a family nickname or his own choice.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s five-year-old son was out with his grandmother Carole Middleton when a dog walker came across him playing with his younger sister Charlotte in a stream near the Middleton family home in Berkshire.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I was asked by a police minder not to take a photo of the children, which I didn’t, but George started stroking my dog. Just to be friendly I engaged in a bit of small talk and I asked George what his name was, even though obviously I knew it.

"To my astonishment he said ‘I’m called Archie’ with a big smile on his face. I don’t know why he calls himself Archie but kids often play with their names and I think it’s lovely.”

Archie comes originally from Germany but then Scotland where it’s a short form of Archibald, meaning true, bold and brave.

George, who is third in line to the throne, already has several nicknames, as do many other members of the royal family. His middle names are Alexander and Louis.

When she was pregnant Kate and William referred to him as “our little grape.” At school he is known as PG and his parents then started calling him PG Tips or just “Tips” after the tea.

I don’t know why he calls himself Archie but kids often play with their names and I think it’s lovely.

Dog walker

As a child William was dubbed “Wombat” by mum Diana, and at University he called himself “Steve” as he tried to blend in with fellow students. At school Kate was known as “Squeak” because her sister was Pippa so they were jointly named “PipSqueak.”

Kate calls her husband “Big Willy” while Prince Harry has been known as “Flash.” Harry is also called “Potter” by friends as in Harry Potter, while wife Meghan was called “Flower” by her mum and “Bean” by her dad.

The Queen has always been known as “Lilibet” in her family because she couldn’t say her name Elizabeth when she was young. She has also been called “Brenda” by satirical magazine Private Eye and “The Baked Bean” in rhyming slang, while Prince Philip calls her “Cabbage” or “Sausage.”

Philip has been called “Phil the Greek” “Zorba” and “Stavros” by the press and servants because he was born in Corfu. Prince Charles and second wife Camilla secretly called themselves “Fred and Gladys” during their long affair while Charles was married to Diana.

When World Cup winning rugby star Mike Tindall first started dating Princess Anne’s daughter Zara the royals dubbed him “Shrek” because of his likeness to the animated film character.

During his playing days he was known as “The Fridge” because of his frame.

In an interview a couple of years ago Tindall revealed he calls wife Zara “Monica” after the neurotic character in Friends who is always cleaning her flat.
Said a royal insider : “The royals love nicknames and having a bit of fun just like everyone else.

“When George goes to school I can imagine a few comments about ‘Educating Archie.’”

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