A future king of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms has been born in London’s St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.
The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby – 8lb 6oz – at 4.24pm GMT. Both mother and child are understood to be doing well.
The baby, who will be known officially as His Royal Highness the Prince of Cambridge, is third in line to the throne after his grandfather Prince Charles, who is first, and his father Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, who is second.
The birth puts paid to months of speculation over the gender of the royal baby. The birth of this particular heir held the potential of historical significance, being the first child to be born under the new Succession to the Crown Act 2013. This act ended over three centuries of primogeniture – the right of the first-born son to inherit the throne. Under the previous law, a first-born female child could have lost her place in line to a younger brother.
However, the royal child still holds the potential to be a royal first: the first heir to the throne since the Act of Succession 1701 to be allowed, if he wishes, to marry a Roman Catholic, although he will still have to seek permission from the reigning monarch at the time.
Prince Charles said he was « overjoyed » at the birth of his grandchild, and added: « I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time ». The Duke of Cambridge said in a statement that the couple « could not be happier ».
An official statement from Kensington Palace said: « Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight. »
No statements have yet been issued about the name of the child; Buckingham Palace said the information would be released « in due course ».
1.) Are you interested by the news of a royal baby? Why/why not?
2.) What do you imagine it must be like to be born famous? Is this a life you would choose? Explain your answer.
3.) The royal birth will be the subject of much media attention. How much privacy should the royal family be allowed?
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