With all the excitement, frenzy and celebration that went into the #GreatKateWait, I would not be even the least surprised if you told me that I had missed some of the details that went into the arrival of the most anticipated Royal baby in decades. To make sure you’ve gotten all of the details – or recovered from having all of them, one or the other – here is a recap of the birth of His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge.
On July 1st, 2013, St. Mary’s Hospital officially suspended parking and put up barricades to provide as much privacy and security as possible for Catherine as well as preparing for the onslaught of world media. They knew that the birth would draw a lot of media attention and they weren’t wrong as the media began to line up shortly thereafter, and as the days stretched out into weeks waiting for the baby, the Twitter hashtag #GreatKateWait began to trend worldwide as eveyone anxiously awaited the birth of the future monarch.
The good news finally came at 7:30 am London Time on July 22, 2013. That morning, Clarence House confirmed the that Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital in London in the early stages of labour. She had checked in at approximately 5:30 am and arrived in a convoy of unsuspecting royal vehicles including a Ford minivan and and older model Saab sedan. Reports state that William had maybe even driven her there himself.
Around 3pm on July 22nd, we still had no word from the Palace but we did get confirmation that the Queen had returned to Buckingham Palace as we saw the Royal Standard fly. We also saw arriving Kate’s Secretary Rebecca Deacon and William’s Protection Officer carrying a bag of food from Marks and Spencer. Later on we saw laptops, books and pizzas being delivered as well.
The good news finally came via press release from Clarence House at 8 pm on July 22nd in London that the Duchess had safely delivered a son. He was born at 4:24pm London time and weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces. Catherine gave birth naturally with William by her side. The news was then also printed and driven to Buckingham Palace where it was placed on the same gilded gold easel that had announced William’s birth 31 years earlier around 8:45pm. That same evening, press releases are issued by Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, indicating their happiness at the birth.
The new family started to make their preparations for their official début as a family on July 23rd. The media was whipped into a frenzy with conflicting reports all morning that Kate was receiving final medical checkups from the Doctors, they would be leaving/wouldn’t be leaving, etc. Throughout the day celebrations took place all across London including the Band of Scots guards playing “Congratulations” at the Changing of the Guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace. There are press releases thanking the hospital staff from the Cambridges as well as gun salutes at Green Park and the Tower of London at 2pm.
Baby’s first visitors arrived around 3pm when Carole and Michael Middleton pulled up in a taxi at the Lindo Wing. We also saw the Duchess’ hairdresser arrive and then Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall arrived around 5:30pm. As Charles left, he made a comment about the media “seeing the baby in a minute” which appeared to indicate the family’s imminent departure from St. Mary’s. A press release was released advising the media that Kate would be released from hospital that evening.
At 6:25pm on July 23rd, the world finally caught its first glimpses of the then unnamed Prince of Cambridge as Catherine, William and baby appeared on the steps of the Lindo Wing. They said a few words to the press, including William joking about the baby’s amount of hair compared to his own and Kate indicating the emotion which they both felt at the birth. They departed a few short minutes later after Prince William himself installed his son (in his carseat) into a waiting Range Rover and the family drove off. They arrived at their home in Kensington Palace around a half hour later where the baby met his new Aunts and Uncles: Prince Harry and Pippa & James Middleton.
Around noon the next day, July 24th, the Queen travelled to Kensington Palace to meet her new great-grandson and heir. She stayed for about a half hour and then left. Shortly thereafter, William, Catherine and the still unnamed Prince of Cambridge departed to Kate’s parents home in Bucklebury where they will be shielded from prying eyes and will get to enjoy some quality time with their new son.
At 7:30 on July 24th, the final piece of the Royal Baby puzzle was released via Press Release indicating that the new baby’s name was to be His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge.
Long live the (future) King!
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