It's a prince! On Monday, the world welcomed the newest addition to the royal family and the future heir to England's throne. Palace officials confirmed the arrival of His Royal Highness the Prince of Cambridge, born at St. Mary's Hospital at 4:24 PM BST, and weighing 8 lbs 6 oz..
"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight," palace officials stated in an official press release. Prince William was present at the birth of his first child. The name of his firstborn son will be released "in due course."
Prince Charles expounded on the emotional moment in a statement released through Clarence House. He said he is "enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time."
"Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild," he added. "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 birth
marks a new era for not only the first-time parents but also the
extended royal family. As third in line to succeed the throne after his
grandfather Prince Charles and his father, Prince William, he's the
first baby born under new succession laws.
More on Yahoo: The Royal Baby Effect
More on Yahoo: The Royal Baby Effect
Click to enlarge (photo via Twitter)
The modernized
bill amends a centuries-old policy, allowing the royal couple's
first-born child the right to inherit the throne regardless of gender.
"Historically, this is huge,"
Victoria Arbiter, CNN's royal expert, told Yahoo! Shine. "In 60 or 70
years, this baby will be a monarch. It's also the first time since Queen
Victoria that four generations of monarchs will be alive together."
It's been a long and sometimes rocky journey to the
historic due date. Anticipation about the heir to the throne began well
before the frenzy over rumored due dates and even before St. James's
Palace officially announced the Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy in
December. From the first day of their marriage over two years ago, Prince William and Kate Middleton have had an audience of clock-watchers.
More on Yahoo! Shine: Kate Middleton's maternity fashions
More on Yahoo! Shine: Kate Middleton's maternity fashions
But they have never let public expectations
determine their personal timing. After their 10-year courtship, the
couple put off parenthood to enjoy their first year as a married couple.
In that time, Middleton flexed her philanthropic muscles and stepped
into her late mother-in-law's shoes as an international fashion arbiter.
She also weathered a paparazzi scandal, prompting the palace to tighten
its reins on the press.
When it came to the big announcement about the couple's first child, there was only so much the royal family could control. (To quote the Duchess herself, "Babies have their own agenda.") Before the official news broke, Middleton suffered acute morning sickness
early in her first trimester. During her treatment at a central London
hospital, pregnancy rumors reached a boiling point and the palace was
forced to confirm what the public had long hoped.
"As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her
Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will
require a period of rest thereafter," read the official statement from
St. James's Palace.
The news rippled immediately through the retail industry. Collectibles
marking the anticipated firstborn's arrival began rolling out by early
2013, as maternity designers elbowed for the chance to dress the
mom-to-be. All told, economists predict the royal birth could boost the
British economy by $400 million.
More on Yahoo!: Royal Baby's first song
Tragedy overshadowed the worldwide excitement when two Australian radio hosts pranked Middleton's hospital and the nurse who took the hoax call later committed suicide.
It was a sobering reminder of the impact of royal coverage on human lives. For the future monarch, it's an unfortunate part of the inheritance and part of an unfathomable burden of power.
Perhaps no one better understands this than the new dad, Prince William.
"Royal firstborns may get all the glory, but secondborns enjoy more freedom," Diana, princess of Wales, said after giving birth
to her second son, Harry. "My second child will never have quite the
same sort of pressure that poor William must face all his life."Tragedy overshadowed the worldwide excitement when two Australian radio hosts pranked Middleton's hospital and the nurse who took the hoax call later committed suicide.
It was a sobering reminder of the impact of royal coverage on human lives. For the future monarch, it's an unfortunate part of the inheritance and part of an unfathomable burden of power.
Perhaps no one better understands this than the new dad, Prince William.
That firstborn
pressure includes carrying the HRH title and the legacy that goes with
it. In the distant future, the newborn is poised to be the supreme
governor of the Church of England, head of the U.K. armed forces, and
the head of state in 16 countries.
"One day, this baby will be an influence across the globe, a leader, and someone millions of people will look up to," said Arbiter. For now, however, he has two main responsibilities: eating and sleeping, just like any other baby.
"One day, this baby will be an influence across the globe, a leader, and someone millions of people will look up to," said Arbiter. For now, however, he has two main responsibilities: eating and sleeping, just like any other baby.
