Princess Leonor : Viva la Reina! (English Version)

16. The Names

Sofia's pregnancy had entered its fourth month. The long-awaited day had arrived. Today the doctor will check the gender of the twins Sofia were carrying. Alex, Leonor, Umberto, and Letizia accompanied Sofia at the clinic.

As usual, before performing the ultrasound, the doctor applied gel to Sofia's stomach which was now visibly enlarged. The screen showed two fetuses moving.

"They are girls. Healthy girls. Congratulations." ucap said the doctors. 

Hearing that, Leonor and Umberto hugged. Letizia made the sign of the cross on her chest, thank God, she whispered. Alex kissed his wife Sofia's forehead.

"The development of both fetuses is good for the current gestational age. Your Majesty, please maintain nutritional intake," the doctor continued while looking at Sofia.

"Okay, of course, doctor. Then, what about the delivery later, doctor?"

"We recommend doing a planned operation at 38 weeks of pregnancy. Scheduled C-section. Given your history, your first pregnancy also had an operation."

"We agree, doctor. My wife is a bit worried about having a natural birth, especially since this is a twin pregnancy," said Alex.

"Well then, I will schedule the operation for around early March 2036."

Hearing the doctor's answer, Leonor became a little emotional. March was a historic month for her. In that month, King Felipe VI, her father, died, then Leonor ascended the throne to become queen. The birth of her daughters in the same month certainly made that month even more special. Ah, if only Papa was still here.

_______

The next day.

"Hey, I've been looking everywhere for you, honey. So here you are," Umberto said as he entered the chapel next to the Zarzuela palace. He found his wife with Carlos, their 2-year-old nephew.

"Sofia is sleeping. Alex has an event. So I brought Carlos here while I was praying," Leonor answered.

"Praying?"

"Yes, I pray that Sofia's pregnancy goes smoothly until delivery. And most importantly, I pray for Papa, may he rest in peace with God," answered Leonor while making the sign of the cross on her chest.

Umberto sat down beside Leonor and took Carlos from his wife's arms.

"Amen. Have you thought of names for our daughters?"

"I thought it was Isabel, but Isabel is the name of your friend who was caught on camera hugging you back then."

"Hey, that was a long time ago. That was before we got married. There was nothing between me and her. Are you still jealous?"

"A little. Just kidding. Besides, Queen Isabel II's reputation isn't great." Leonor chuckled.

"Then what? What names would be suitable from the previous queens of Castile, Aragon, Leon, and Navarre?"

"It doesn't have to be a queen's name. How about Luisa? The Bourbon dynasty is descended from King Louis XIV of France. There was King Luis I of Spain. My grandfather Juan Carlos' grandmother was also named Louise d'Orleans. And I don't think the name Luisa sounds too old-fashioned these days."

"Good. Queen Luisa. That sounds great. And for our other child? It doesn't have to be the queen's name too, right?" asked Umberto.

But their conversation was diverted when Carlos touched Umberto's nose. "Hey, don't do that, sweetie. This is your toy." Umberto said as he gave the small ball to Carlos' hand.

"I was thinking Juana. Like Queen Juana of Castile. But that name sounds old-fashioned these days, like the name of our mother's generation," Leonor said, taking Carlos back into her lap.

"What about Giovanna?"

"The Italian Giovanna?"

"Yes, like my great-grandmother Giovanna of Italy, Queen consort of Bulgaria."

"Sounds good. But would the Spanish people want a royal princess to have an Italian name?"

"You forgot my name and your mother's name are the Italian version, not the Spanish version. Our names are Umberto and Letizia, not Humberto and Leticia. It doesn't matter."

"That's right. Hey, Carlos honey, do you want cousins to be named ​​Luisa and Giovanna? Do you want to see them?" Leonor said as she kissed Carlos' chubby cheeks. The toddler just chuckled.

Finally they agreed that the baby with the heavier birth weight would be named Luisa, she would be the heir and future queen. While her twin sister would be named Giovanna.