Helena was born at Buckingham Palace, the official royal residence in London, on 25 May 1846, the day after her mother's 27th birthday. Albert reported to his brother, Ernest II, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, that Helena "came into this world quite blue, but she is quite well now". He added that the Queen "suffered longer and more than the other times and she will have to remain very quiet to recover." Albert and Victoria chose the names "Helena Augusta Victoria". The German nickname for Helena was "Helenchen", later shortened to "Lenchen", the name by which members of the royal family invariably referred to Helena. As the daughter of the sovereign, Helena was styled "Her Royal Highness The Princess Helena" from birth. Helena was baptised on 25 July 1846 at the private chapel at Buckingham Palace. Her godparents were the Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (the husband of Queen's cousin); the Duchess of Orléans (for whom the Queen's mother the Duchess of Kent stood proxy); and the Duchess of Cambridge (the Queen's aunt).