It’s a Boy for Kate and Wills

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Category: UK A&E, Lifestyle, Culture

Published on Tuesday, 23 July 2013 05:09

Written by Janet Walker

His Royal Highness Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge announced the birth of their first child, a son, at 4:24pm, July 22, 2013. Baby boy Mountbatten-Windsor weighed in at 8lbs. 6oz.

Baby Mountbatten-Windsor, who has yet to make his first public appearance, was born in the private Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s hospital in Paddington, London, the same hospital where his father, and heir to the throne Prince William was born.

The birth announcement, which was written on official Buckingham Palace stationary, was hand delivered, as is tradition, and posted on large wooden easel just inside the gates at Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen Elizabeth.

It read, "Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm today.

"Her royal Highness and her child are both doing well."

A statement released from Kensington Palace said: "Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight."

"The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news."

Prince Charles, the baby’s grandfather, released this statement, "Both my wife (Camilla, Duchess of Cornwell) and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild," said Charles, 65.  "It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy.

The usually composed Charles added, beaming, “Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone’s life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future.”

The late Princess Diana, mother of Prince William and Prince Harry, died tragically in an automobile accident in August 1997 as she was being chased by paparazzi.

Catherine’s parents, Carole and Michael, are also said to be thrilled.

News of the highly anticipated royal birth was quick to become a global sensation, as media had camped out for the past two weeks waiting to catch of glimpse of the world’s most photographed female and what will be the most photographed child.

London was awash in blue, from London Bridge, to the BT Tower in Central London, Trafalgar Square Fountain and the London Eye Ferris Wheel, all joined in the celebration. Baby Boy Cambridge headlined London’s Newspapers, symbolized the mood of the people who breathlessly waited in union the much loved baby’s birth, with celebratory name changes by The Sun to The Son, The Daily Mirror “Our Little Prince”, the Guardian, “A Birth, A Boy, A Prince, A King,”  “It’s a Boy!” was used by three British Newspapers, the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Express and the Daily Star.

Will Baby Boy Cambridge be introduced to the world today? It is not uncommon for the child’s name to be withheld for, even up to a month, as was with Prince Charles, and it was a week before the world knew the name of Charles and Diana’s first born son.

With many of the royal details unknown, the world will have to wait for the official christening to discover the Godparents, which can be up to six sets. Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton, will become one set. The others are usually bestowed upon close family friends and relatives which in this case will include both royals and commoners.

Baby Boy Mountbatten-Windsor, born into duty and service, is the third in line of succession to the throne of sixteen independent sovereign states, including the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, after his grandfather, Prince Charles and his Father Prince William. With the royal birth, Prince Harry is fourth in line.

For more information: www.princeofwales.gov.uk