Crowds outside St Mary's hospital, London, await the royal birth today. Photograph: Sang Tan/AP
It's emerged that a slight change has been to the manner in which details of the birth will be announced
Kensington Palace is going to issue a press release containing
details of the birth shortly before the signed medical bulletin leaves
the hospital from the front steps of the Lindo wing
This is to insure that the announcement is made "as quickly and simply as possible" according to Palace officials.
The announcement will still be posted on that much-awaited easel at a later stage though.
Here's the view of Peter Hunt:
The "theatre" of the
birth announcement has been replaced by a press release. The easel
moment will still happen. Not now as significant.
— Peter Hunt (@BBCPeterHunt) July 22, 2013
Updated
A snippet now from 'Charleswatch' and the Press Association reports
that the Prince of Wales was asked if there was any news as he left
Harewood House, near Leeds, tonight.
His reply:
No. You'll hear before I do, I suspect.
Perish the thought.
Updated
Another update from Maev Kennedy in Bucklebury, Kate's home village (Located on the map below, west of Reading):
Lit by occasional flashes of lightning, still only one topic of
conversation in Bucklebury. "Any news?" a passing dog walker calls.
The camera crews have now abandoned their disconsolate vigil under
the oak trees opposite the Bladebone pub which has been closed all day.
The Boot just down the hill is open, but there's even less chance of
enough signal there to pick up any news, should there be any news ...
Updated
Believe it or not, but other news meanwhile continues to happen today, including proposals unveiled by David Cameron for collaboration between police and internet firms to pursue abusers and users of online images and video.
But could the Prime Minister and his advisers really have timed
related photo opportunities to coincide with the focus on St Mary's
hospital?
Being surrounded by young mothers was the money shot @David_Cameron was aiming for today. Clever cynical stuff.
— Steven Fielding (@PolProfSteve) July 22, 2013
An update now from the Guardian's Sam Jones who has been toughing it out amid sweltering conditions:
The crowds gathered outside the Lindo wing are showing no signs of
disappearing despite the heat and the fact that its nigh-on 12 hours
since the duchess of Cambridge was admitted.
Weary print hacks, who have set up their makeshift camp inside the
hospital cafe are beginning to wonder whether the management has
deliberately killed the air con in a bid to oust them.
The suffocating heat could, however, merely be down to the number of journalistic bodies and laptops present.
It's much cooler outside, where the sinking sun is now glaring off the fifth-floor windows of the Lindo wing.
Some more Royal mania from across the pond (was all that stuff
between 1775 and 1783 just a misunderstanding?). Our own Adam Gabbatt
has been soaking up some of the excitement about today in New York city.
Here's a video from him:
Could a royal baby give make the difference between a sluggish British economy and fully fledged recovery?
Er... probably not, although at the New York Times they've found some figures that are not to be sniffed at.
Britons are expected to spend more than £243 million on merchandise,
other goods and party food in July and August to celebrate the newborn,
reports the Times, attributing that figure to the Center for Retail Research.
The paper's 'The Lede' blog adds that the figure would compare with £163 million spent on souvenirs alone for William and Kate’s wedding in April 2011.
Updated
Ah, for the old days. Alastair Bruce, Royal, Religious and National Events Commentator at Sky News (quite a title in itself) has been explaining that the easel announcing details about the sex and other details about the baby used to be hung out in front of the railings at the palace's forecourt.
It's feared that it could be pocketed now however were it to be so accessible. Boo.
That chopper landing at the Palace seems to have cause quite a stir, according to Anna Whitelock, a Royal historian, who says that three unidentified men got out.
Royal navy helicopter just landed adjacent to buckingham palace. Crowds gone crazy. Who might be arriving? Engine still on #RoyalBaby
— Anna Whitelock (@AnnaWhitelock) July 22, 2013
Updated
A bit of movement now over at the Palace. Peter Hunt, Royal correspondent for the BBC, tweets:
A helicopter has landed in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Its not known who was on board. #RoyalBaby
— Peter Hunt (@BBCPeterHunt) July 22, 2013
Award-winning Royal Photographer tweets that some further sustenance
has been delivered to the press pack, courtesy of a certain British
supermarket chain:
Thanks to @Marksandspencer who've just delivered much needed drinks to the #LindoWing press pen! Much appreciated.
— Mark Stewart (@RegalEyes) July 22, 2013
Hope no one gets hurt in the rush.
This is not just any royal birth then, this is an .... Ok, sorry. That was a weak moment.
Updated
Here's another one of those beautiful babies born to readers who
have responded to a GuardianWitness call-out in recent weeks for stories
and photos of your own newborns. Adriano Ndongala Lucau sends this pic of Adriano Omar Lucau:
Born on 20 July in Poole Dorset, weighting 7.9lb, our own Royal
baby Adriano Omar Lucau took his time and was delivered 20 hours after
his mother Shona admitted to hospital. Mother and the baby are doing
fine.
It has hosted events featuring some of the world's most experienced war correspondents.
Today though, London's Frontline
media club is pushing out the boat for another group of hardened hacks -
those waiting outside of Sun drenched St Mary's. The team at the club
in Paddington tweets:
I was hoping to break the news to you, but I probably ought to stop
typing for a little while, so I'm going to hand over now to my colleague
Ben Quinn, who will take the reins this evening.
Thanks for all the comments.
Updated
A reader has written a celebratory poem about the Shard's decision to bow to Guardian pressure and mark the birth.
My colleague Mirren Gidda has just been speaking to the Greater
London authority about its plans to light the Trafalgar Square fountains
up blue or pink depending on whether the baby is a boy or a girl (pink
if it's a boy - I'm joking). Apparently the fountains are going to stay
lit up for seven days.
Here are the crowds waiting to see Prince William held aloft in 1982, and those waiting for the brand-new royal baby today ... Crowds await news of Prince William's birth
in 1982, left, and the media gathering outside St Mary's hospital today.
Composite: Getty Images/AP
Updated
The View from the Shard, the viewing platform at the top of western
Europe's tallest building, will mark the birth of the royal baby by
giving free admission to guests who share the little'un's birthday.
The offer is only open for 24 hours following the baby's birth, so as soon as that baby's born, get clicking.
The move follows a Guardian campaign to shame the Shard into celebrating the baby's birth.
BREAKING: The Shard will celebrate the royal birth. More details soon ...
My colleague Matt Williams in New York writes to report that the
Empire State Building will not be going pink or blue for the royal birth
– although it did go red, white and blue for the royal wedding (here it
is lit up for a different occasion – last year's US election). The Empire State Building: celebrated the royal wedding. Photograph: Paul Owen for the Guardian
A spokeswoman said: "Although we are all standing by in excitement,
the Empire State Building will not light for the birth of the royal
baby."
Prince Charles has added to his earlier comments (which I rather
liked) to the effect that he knew “absolutely nothing” about the
imminent birth.
The Prince of Wales said:
I'm very grateful indeed for the kind wishes for my rather
slowly-approaching grandfatherhood ... Some of you may realise that with
grandfatherhood comes, in four months' time, old age pensionerhood
[he's nearly 65].
The Prince of Wales meets crowds during a visit to the National Railway Museum in York today. Photograph: Lynne Cameron/PA
After 2 miscarriages we finally made it with our lovely baby
daughter born today at 9.29am. Half English, Half Thai she really is the
best gift we could have asked for. I read the news only a few hours
later and only realised there is a chance that Prince William's baby
could be born on the same day...Amazing!!
We haven't really talked about the name yet, have we? I mean, OK, we
have no idea what it might be, but as the BBC would put it "that won't stop us".
My colleagues Caroline Davies and Ben Jackson report that Alexandra has been favourite for a girl, with Charlotte also popular.
Diana (7-1 to 9-1) has obvious provenance and is very likely to
appear in some form, though probably as a middle name. Elizabeth (7-1 to
10-1) would also be a reasonable bet for a middle name, and is the Duchess of Cambridge's middle name. Victoria, Caroline and Mary were also seen as safe royal names.
What if it's a boy? George has been a favourite, and James has
attracted a bit of cash. Edward, Charles, Michael and Arthur are all
said to be in the running.
According to a "global analysis" of Twitter by Bloom Worldwide, which
is a "social media agency", Diana is the most popular choice of the
world's tweeters.
It's not up to them though.
For American readers confused about British baby customs, the Guardian US English to English project
is happy to translate any mysterious-sounding habits and practices,
such as live-blogging the birth, something most British mothers request
these days.
Updated
Still nothing happening outside a sun-baked St Mary's, reports Sam Jones (and no sign yet of that thunderstorm I promised you).
However, Sam says, a couple of mischievous cameramen have clocked the
Lindo Wing's tiny balconies and are jokingly hoping that the Duke of
Cambridge will deviate spectacularly from royal birth protocol by
dangling the baby over the rail a la Michael Jackson.
Perhaps those Lion King tweets are not so wide of the mark.
There are around 23 babies born every day at the Liverpool Women's Hospital, reports Alexandra Topping.
Those deemed to be high-risk are delivered in the delivery suite, but
for low-risk births the midwives reign supreme in the Midwife-Led Unit.
On the Princess Diana ward of the MLU, opened by William's late mother
18 years ago, today's shift leader Paula Cato is making sure new mum
Justyna Dabrowska has everything she needs.
Dabrowska, who is from Poland and has been in the UK for eight years,
is delighted that her son Igor has arrived on the day the Duchess of
Cambridge went into labour.
"My waters broke and I came into hospital yesterday," she explained.
"But he didn't want to come yet so I came in today. I think maybe he was
waiting for the royal baby."
She gave birth to Igor, her second child, at 5.23am, and heard the
royal baby news a few hours later. "I am pleased because I think
everyone will remember this day, and the day my baby was born. Something
important happened on this day."
Dabrowska was grateful to be having her second child in the comfort
of the Women's Hospital. "I have a friend who just gave birth in Poland
and she never wants to have a baby again. If you have friends in the
hospital, then maybe you will have a nice birth, but if not then you
will not. It is very different here, everyone can have a nice birth."
And she seemed fairly relaxed about the fact that Kate was likely to
be getting more luxurious treatment than she had received. "It is
different; she is an important person, and she should have a better
room, better everything," she said. "My baby is important to me; Kate's
baby is important to her. I am happy to be here."
Justyna Dabrowska went into labour yday, her son Igor was born at 5am. "I think he was waiting for the royal baby" pic.twitter.com/Gb25gfDozP
— Alexandra Topping (@LexyTopping) July 22, 2013
A little time spent with Stephen Eyers, 26, whose partner Stacey
Peers, 26, just gave birth to Callum is testimony to the power of the
occasion, writes Lexy.
Callum is Eyers's first child and, after 27 hours of no sleep, he is
still reeling, looking with doting wonder at the creature his partner
has brought into the world. "I'm just in shock," he says, eyes
sparkling. "I'm overwhelmed with joy, I can't explain it; it was just
one of the best experiences I've ever had."
Eyers was there for the duration of the birth - albeit with frequent
trips to the bathroom. "I was sick four times," he admits. "As soon as
he came out I was just crying."
Peers, who had a natural birth, seems a little more together: "She needs to get a move on, I want my royal penny," she jokes, wondering aloud whether the royal baby might be called Callum too.
There were "frantic scenes" outside the gates of Buckingham Palace
when the Queen arrived, much to the delight of those waiting patiently
for baby news, the Press Association reports.
The royal vehicle drove through the gates and out of the view of
members of the public, eager to catch a glimpse of the monarch. Scores
of people surged to the gates, screaming "the Queen!", while others
reached into their pockets to grab their camera phones in an effort to
catch Her Majesty's fleeting appearance. The Queen's arrival represented
the first real movement at the palace for some hours, as crowds packed
five deep in anticipation of a royal announcement.
Jackson was born 6 days late on the 12.7.13 weighing 7lbs 10oz.
He was brought into the world after 17 long hours of labour, very
serenely in a birthing pool.
Jackson was born on the beautiful Willow suite at Heartlands Hospital Birmingham.
Mommy and Daddy are both utterly in love and can't wait to see what the future holds for our boy.
The open road, the path of greatness, is at your fingers...
ITV has rounded up a collection of “wacky royal baby collectibles”, including a mug celebrating – with admirable confidence – “William and Kate’s first born son in 2013”, a bobble-head doll of Prince William that looks more like Val Kilmer, and, my own personal favourite, the “Lady Princess Kate Royal Baby Pancake Surreal Painting Portrait Art Lacey” – that’s on eBay for $10 and currently only has one watcher, so you might be in luck if you get clicking now. The Lady Princess Kate Royal Baby Pancake Surreal Painting Portrait Art Lacey. Photograph: eBay
Meanwhile the Huffington Post lists
the top five worst royal baby tie-ins. Number five is the Mills and
Boon book Royal Baby, by Trish Morey, Lynn Raye Harris and Sabrina
Philips. I’ll let them tell you the plot:
The Prince demands an heir... and what he wants, he gets! Sienna
Wainwright had one phenomenal night with Rafe Lombardi before he cast
her out of his bed. But six weeks later their world changed... No longer
just a billionaire, Rafe is revealed as the Prince of Montvelatte. And
Sienna is pregnant - with his twins! Prince Nico Cavelli would never
normally waste his time visiting the prison cell of a tourist. Except
this particular alleged criminal, Lily Morgan, has stolen something very
personal to him - his son, heir to the Montebianco throne! Cally
Greenway was hoping to secure the job of restoring some valuable
paintings, until they're sold to the Prince of Montez! Then Cally gets a
royal summons - His Majesty has a job for her... as his mistress: she
is to be biddable, pleasurable...and pregnant? Let us treat you like a
queen - relax and enjoy three glamorous, passionate stories about
privileged royal life, love affairs...and scandalous pregnancies!
While there is still no sign at the royal baby at St Mary's, at the
Liverpool Women's Hospital more of the future heir's future subjects
continue to be born, with the help of the relentlessly cheerful midwives
who staff this hospital, reports Alexandra Topping.
I met little Jacob Booth, who was born at 9.21am to Amy Muscatelli,
24, and her partner Curtis Booth. I thought Jacob was smiling for the
camera until his mum helpfully told me that he probably just had wind.
Muscatelli didn't know if Jacob would share the same birthday as the
royal offspring, but thought there was a pretty good chance. "To be
honest, once she's in that pain I don't think she'll be waiting around."
She was told by her partner about the duchess's labour at about 7am -
helpfully in the middle of a contraction. Asked what she said, she
replied: "You can't really print it in a paper, but it was the pain
talking. It meant 'I don't really care right now'."
Now she is hoping that Willliam and Kate will have a little girl.
"That way Jacob could marry the duchess's daughter, and we would be part
of the royal family."
Updated
Sam Jones has just arrived at St Mary's to take the
baton from Peter Walker, who, Sam can exclusively report, has now
wandered off to consume a delicious late lunch consisting of some kind
of wrap – Sam forgot to ask what the filling was – after having been
there since half past eight this morning. And he did a 120-mile cycle ride this weekend.
Anyway, Sam reports that "precious little" is going on outside the
Lindo Wing, but under cross-examination admits that that is not entirely
true: "The hospital cafe is doing a roaring trade and some of the
arch-royalists should really be looking to secure the services of PR
agents, such is the media demand for their views."
I don't know if you knew that Sam was in Paris watching the Tour de
France yesterday. But, in case you didn't, Sam adds in passing:
Am also experiencing a strange feeling of deja vu: the excited
crowds, the furnace sun and the heavy weight of expectation are rather
reminiscent of the scene at the Arc de Triomphe this time yesterday as
we gathered to welcome Chris Froome across the line of the Tour de
France.
To be fair, though, there's far, far less lager being downed than there was in Paris.
Updated
Matt Wells in New York has been watching the American TV networks' coverage of the day so far:
It's often noted that Americans appear love the British royal family
with greater fervour than royalists in the UK. It probably has something
to do with the fact that Americans' attitude to the likes of William
and Kate comes unencumbered by awkward questions about whether they are a waste of taxpayers' money or not.
The US networks have therefore been preparing for this day for months,
and they could barely disguise their delight when the news came just in
time for the morning shows.
NBC seems to be by far the most excited, which may or may not have
anything to do with the fact that the new president of its news
division, Deborah Turness, is a Brit. Today anchor Nathalie Morales has
been in London for the past week, waiting to front the show's live
coverage from a pitch the size of a postage stamp outside St Mary's
Hospital. NBC has been making full use of its British "special
correspondent" Ben Fogle, presumably because he looks and sounds like an
aristocrat; helpfully he was able to offer first-hand insight of St
Mary's hospital today as his sister also went into labour this morning
and will be having her baby there.
Of the major US newspaper websites, the New York Times, Washington
Post and Los Angeles Times opt for modest placings of the royal baby
story on their homepages. Curiously, National Public Radio didn't
mention it at all on its morning news bulletins, despite leading its
website with the story.
Reader Myles Thomas writes from New Zealand with an update on
Auckland's Sky Tower, which has promised to light itself up pink or blue
depending on the sex of the royal nipper. But as Myles reports, the
tower is currently hedging its bets:
Auckland's Sky Tower has a bob each way on the sex of this royal baby
by switching between pink and blue each second. Not surprising as it's
part of a large casino.
Do you live near a skyscraper or notable building that is marking the
birth of the royal baby? If so send your pictures to
paul.owen@guardian.co.uk or tweet me @paultowen. The Sky Tower: it's a girl! Photograph: Myles ThomasWait ... what? Photograph: Myles Thomas
Updated
Back to the royal baby for a second. Maev Kennedy is at Bucklebury's babywatch central:
the Old Boot Inn, where landlord John Haley has known the couple for
years - and got invited to their wedding. The Telegraph and ITV are
currently in residence, the Times has just been there, and Maev finds a
harassed Mr Haley on the phone to Australia saying: "This is not a good
time, this is really not a good time" – when he is not phoning around to
pull in extra staff.
Maev describes Bucklebury – Kate's hometown – as "the quietest
village in the world, tucked in folds of hills so the noise of the M4
and A4 only a few miles away is drowned out by wood pigeons". The Old Boot Inn in Bucklebury: besieged. Photograph: Maev Kennedy for the Guardian
The Washington Post has helpfully explained that the birth of the
royal baby is “a big, highly anticipated day in royal news”. This seems
rather like saying a republican “means someone who supports a republic” –
which they also say a few lines down, presumably for the benefit of any
reader who thought they might be living under the reign of King Barack
I.
Updated
Mirren Gidda writes: Over at the Conversation website, Angela Davis of the University of Warwick has written a short history of giving birth.
Before the 18th century, midwifery was a woman's domain, she writes,
but by the end of the century women were opting for male
surgeon-apothecaries to help them. “By the 1790s between a third and a
half of all deliveries in England are estimated to have been attended by
medical practitioners.” Traditional female customs were replaced by
male surgeons' scientific knowledge.
By the 1900s, caesarean section deliveries had increased, making
childbirth a more medical, hospital-based affair. Discoveries of
anti-bacterial drugs, antibiotics and improvements in blood transfusions
saw hospital deliveries become a far safer alternative to home birth,
and by the 20th century there was a growing momentum to give birth in a
hospital.
Meanwhile, we've become blind to the risks of caesareans, writes Lesley Page, president of the Royal College of Midwives.
Not everyone is pleased with the Guardian's decision to live blog
the wait for the royal baby. Not even everyone at the Guardian.
Things that need banning. Live blogging the dilation of a woman's cervix actually.
— suzanne moore (@suzanne_moore) July 22, 2013
I asked Graham Smith of Republic, the pressure group campaigning for the abolition of the monarchy, to explain his objections.
First, he said the royal family's media strategy was partly about
reinforcing the myth that the monarchy is "a harmless fantasy, a bit of
magic that brings in tourists and provides occasions for cheer during
otherwise difficult times". He said:
Three separate ideas are conflated to build this myth: that the
monarchy is ceremonial and decorative without any serious purpose; that
it unites the country; that it is good for the economy.
Each of these myths is not true, he said: "The monarchy is not
powerless, doesn't bring in tourists and fails to unite the country.
What those myths do, however, is protect an institution that wilfully
abuses its position to protect its own interests. It also acts as cover
for the profoundly undemocratic nature of our political system. It's not
just Prince Charles's lobbying and personal veto over laws that's the
problem but also the crown powers used and exploited by our
politicians."
(Here's a link to a recent story on the Guardian's ongoing court battle to force Prince Charles to reveal his private correspondence with government ministers.)
Smith said:
So when these events are covered by the media in the manner of
today's reporting journalists are - whether wittingly or not -
reinforcing the royal PR message and protecting what is in fact a deeply
political institution, steeped in power and vested interest. The
challenge for journalists is to look past the royal spin and present
these stories in the cold hard light of what's really going on. A simple
rule of thumb is: "Treat the royal spin-machine the same way you would
the Tory or Labour spin machine's: with a dose of healthy scepticism and
some searching analysis."
When the Guardian covers a story like this, even with a dose of
irreverence and tongue-in-cheek attitude, you only serve to reinforce
the myths and the general view of the monarchy as an eccentric bit of
fun.
Smith said there were a number of serious questions raised by the royal birth that we had not attempted to answer or ask:
• Shouldn’t every child be born equal in political status and political rights?
• How can that be when one child is born above all others, destined
for high office not because of merit or popular choice but because of
their parents?
• Doesn’t this royal child have the same rights as the rest of us?
The right to choose their own lifestyle, career, religion and beliefs?
Is it right that before this child is born the media, politicians and
the royal family are determining the baby’s entire future?
• Is this an intelligent way to decide our future head of state?
Isn’t it time we chose our highest representatives by merit and popular
choice, not by birthright and parentage?
He added:
I would expect the Guardian to take seriously the journalistic belief
in challenging power. Trivialising this issue only makes the Guardian
an accomplice to that power and an appendage to the royal PR machine.
Updated
According to AccuWeather there's a thunderstorm due in central London at 3pm. #justsaying
More on whether it was the weather that set Kate off. Pat Wood, a
midwife for 20 years and now a birth coach, said an electrical storm is
“not going to put everybody into labour but I think it's one of those
tipping points for some women". She added:
There's a pressure around the baby in the uterus. There's change from
a high atmosphere to a suddenly low one when a storm comes and the
difference in that pressure is what the uterus is trying to equal so
your waters can break.
I very much doubt there's official figures - it's more anecdotal.
It's only a tipping point but if it's your 'maybe, maybe not' day it
might be the final straw that does it.
So basically it's one of those Iain Duncan Smith things where there's absolutely no proof or evidence but, you know, you believe it to be true. A thunderstorm: may or may not have triggered the birth. Photograph: Alessandro Della Bella/AP
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