Royal Baby Alert! Albania's Crown Prince and Princess Welcome Daughter — with a Special Name
Europa Press/Getty Princess Elia and Prince Leka of Albania
Albania's royal family is welcoming their newest member!
Crown Prince Leka II and Crown Princess Elia welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on Thursday. They named their daughter Geraldine — a meaningful tribute to the baby's paternal great-grandmother, Queen Geraldine. (In fact, the new addition was born at the Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital in Tirana!)
Queen Geraldine died on Oct. 22, 2002 — exactly 18 years to the day before her namesake's birth.
"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well," the royal court said in a statement announcing the birth.
RELATED: Princess Eugenie Will be a 'Bohemian Parent' Just Like Mom Sarah Ferguson
Queen Geraldine was Albania's last queen consort before King Zog I was forced into exile when the Italians invaded in 1939. Although the monarchy was dissolved, Zog's son King Leka remained head of the House of Zogu and claimant to the throne until his death in 2011 and was succeeded by his only son, Leka II.
The Royal Family is delighted to announce the birth of Her Royal Highness Princess Geraldine, who was born to TRH Crown Prince Leka and Crown Princess Elia, Thursday the 22nd of October. Crown Princess Elia was safely delivered at 09:30, at the “Queen Geraldine Maternity” pic.twitter.com/77necOoL8e
— Princ Leka (@princeleka) October 22, 2020
Crown Prince Leka II married actress and singer Elia Zaharia in Oct. 2016, making her Crown Princess Elia of the Albanians.
The couple lives in Tirana, where they represent Albania and Kosova and preside over the Queen Geraldine Foundation. Prince Leka has worked as an advisor within the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Albanian Presidents Office, while Princess Elia works at the Albanian National Theater.
AFP via Getty Princess Elia and Prince Leka of Albania
The British royal family is also preparing to welcome another baby to the world. Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter Princess Eugenie is expecting her first child with husband Jack Brooksbank.
In a statement, the palace said, "Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting a baby in early 2021."
"The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, Mr and Mrs George Brooksbank, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are delighted with the news."
Princess Eugenie/Instagram Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie
Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
Whether a son or daughter, the baby will be 11th in the line of succession to the British throne behind Eugenie. However, it's unlikely the baby will receive a royal title from the monarch.
