Complaints of disrespect to newborn British princess after a vote staged by Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden to name its new macaque

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A Japanese zoo is rethinking the name of a baby monkey called Charlotte following complaints it was disrespectful to Britain’s newborn princess.



Mount Takasaki Wild Monkey Park announced the name Wednesday after it came top in a traditional public vote to name the first macaque monkey born each year.

“The name was publicly solicited and Charlotte suddenly became the most popular choice – with 59 votes out of the total 853 – after the British baby princess’s name was announced,” a zoo official told AFP.

“There was no vote for Charlotte before the Monday night announcement,” he said.

Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana was born to Prince William and his wife Kate last week, a younger sister to Prince George, who is in line to inherit the British throne.

“Since we announced the name we’ve been receiving calls and emails from people mostly complaining that it is rude to British people” to give a monkey the same name as a member of their royal family, the zoo official said.

“This morning a TV commentator said he thinks it is all right, but most voices are against the idea,” he added.

Kyodo News said that complainants had asked how people in Japan would react if a British zoo were to name an animal after a member of Japan’s revered imperial family.

The zoo in southwestern Oita, on the island of Kyushu, was now considering the option of renaming the baby monkey.

Britain’s royals are immensely popular in Japan, where their easy familiarity with the public stands in marked contrast to the austere image of the country’s own imperial clan.

A recent visit by Prince William – who left heavily pregnant Kate at home – was followed in minute detail by Japan’s media, which revelled in the chance to show pictures of him dressed as a samurai lord.