Journalism of Courage
Prince William's wife Kate Middleton has given birth to a baby boy, Buckingham Place officials said. The baby was born at 4:24 pm and weighs 8 pounds 6 ounces, the officials added.
The baby will be the third in line for the British throne after Prince Charles and William, who spent the long hours of labour at his wife's bedside.
In this September 20, 2006 photo Prince William holds baby Sina Nuru in the new Winnicott Baby Unit at the St Mary's Hospital in London. (AP)
Kate Middleton checked into a private wing of the St Mary's Hospital in central London early Monday morning. Soon after, a brief message on Twitter was the first of a series of carefully scripted disclosures set to culminate in the announcement of an event that has drawn unparalleled media coverage, even in the annals of Britain's headline-making royal family.
An easel stands in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London carrying an official document to announce the birth of a baby boy, at 4.24pm to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at St Mary's Hospital, Monday July 22, 2013. (AP)c
"Her royal highness the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to St Mary's Hospital in the early stages of labour," said a message from Clarence House, the official residence of the duchess and Prince William, the duke of Cambridge.
The Queen's Press Secretary Ailsa Anderson with Badar Azim, a footman, places an official document to announce the birth of a baby boy. (AP)
The imminent arrival of the royal baby was the subject of endless speculation on social media and was covered for days on live television around the world, but in the end the royal family managed to keep it a remarkably private affair. The Queen's Press Secretary Ailsa Anderson with Badar Azim, a footman, carry out a notice proclaiming the birth of a baby boy to Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge to put on display for the public view at Buckingham Palace in London. (AP)
In line with royal tradition, a terse statement announced only the time of birth, the infant's gender and that mother and child were doing well. It gave no information about the baby's name, and officials would say only that a name would be announced "in due course."
Tony Appleton, a town crier, announces the birth of the royal baby, outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London. (AP)
A car carrying the announcement drove from the hospital to the palace, where the news was greeted with shrieks of "It's a boy!" and strains of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." A large crowd rushed against the palace fences to catch a glimpse of an ornate, gilded easel displaying a small bulletin formally announcing the news.
A Jaguar car is driven into the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace bringing the news to announce the birth of a baby boy. (AP)
William's press aides had talked about preserving Kate's "dignity" throughout the pregnancy, and the way the birth was handled showed that the palace's impressive stagecraft could give the royals a bubble of privacy even in the age of Twitter and 24-hour news broadcasts.
A photographer looks through his camera outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London, Monday. (AP)
The parents met in the early 2000s when both were students at the St Andrew's University in Scotland, and their relationship proceeded sporadically for several years until their wedding in April 2011.
The London Eye observation wheel on the banks of the river Thames celebrates the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son by lighting up in the national colors of red, white and blue. (AP)
