Royal baby: A full page of coverage as the world reacts.
Away with you, you little blighters — and make way for the prince!
If you became a proud parent or grandparent of a spanking new commoner Monday, we’re a bit sorry because it was upstaged by the arrival of the royal baby and a new chapter in British history.
Outside Buckingham Palace, the cry went up: “It’s a boy! It’s a boy!” Then it spread worldwide.
With Prince William by her side, the Duchess of Cambridge, formerly Kate Middleton, gave birth at 4:24 p.m. London time to a healthy 8-lb., 6-oz. baby boy at London’s St. Mary’s Hospital.
If you’re a loyal follower of the House of Windsor — at times a soap opera of fairy tale love and also periodically of Machiavellian betrayal — you’ll know it’s the same hospital where Princess Diana had princes William and Harry.
The royals held to quaint tradition by posting the news — signed by the Queen’s former gynecologist — on a gold easel outside Buckingham Palace (albeit after an official announcement circulated via e-mail.)
The child, third in line to the throne, will be officially named later.
He is the Queen’s third greatgrandchild.
On the streets, strangers laughed and wept with happiness.
And if you’re shaking your head and saying “I don’t really care,” it doesn’t matter much, because by regal design and editorial decision and social media updates, you will be hearing this child’s name for decades to come.
Critics point out, one Pew Research Center study last year found around 75% of Americans weren’t really following the royal pregnancy news.
But the reverse is, one out of every four Americans were keep- ing an eye on the birth of someone an ocean away and a person they will likely never meet.
He has the potential to be followed, documented, photographed and glorified more than Queen Elizabeth.
Somewhere around 352,500 new humans were born Monday on Earth — 2,000 in the U.K. alone — but the birth of this one boy was marked with gathered crowds, live coverage, bold international headlines and special silver pennies.
While a new addition to your family may be welcomed and wonderful, this one stands to one day be head of state of 16 countries.
So you other babies, as adored as you are, please step back now.