Princess Charlotte: Zoo apologises for naming monkey after royal baby

The zoo received 300 phone calls and e-mail messages demanding a retraction of royal baby name

The macaque came into the world a day after Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. The zoo located in South Japan - where the baby monkey was born - invited the public to vote for a name and it was no surprise that the royal baby name got the highest votes.

A Japanese zoo named its newest arrival 'Charlotte' after the royal baby - but has apologised after a public outcry, reports Mirror.

The macaque was born is Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Gardens, in Oita Prefecture, southern Japan. As per tradition, the zoo solicits names from the general public for the first macaque born each year, and the name which receives the highest number of votes wins.

The public was asked to give in their choice of name and as a result of the extensive media coverage given to the royal birth, Charlotte attracted 59 of the 853 votes.

In the running were names Kei, after Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori, and Elsa, a character in the Disney film Frozen.

But according to Kyodo News (Tokyo news agency), the zoo soon received almost 300 phone calls and e-mail messages demanding a retraction and asking the zoo to imagine what the Japanese people would think if a British monkey were named after a member of Japan's imperial family.

Following a barrage of complaints, the zoo retracted the name. A zoo spokesperson claimed that they are discussing a possible name change for the baby macaque.

The Royal Family is popular in Japan, and a recent visit by Prince William saw crowds of delighted fans come out to greet him.