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Giving Birth at home
Royal babies were always usually delivered at home. Queen Elizabeth II was delivered at a private home in London, and she had her children, Charles, Andrew and Edward in Buckingham Palace, and her daughter, Princess Anne at Clarence House, which also belongs to the family. Princess Diana was the first one to break this tradition, as she gave birth to Prince William and Prince Harry at St. Mary’s. Kate Middleton’s children were also delivered a St. Mary’s.
Fathers in the delivery room
It wasn’t usual for the royal father to be present while their wives were giving birth. For example, when the Queen was having Prince Charles, her husband went on to play squash at the Palace, in order to pass the time. Princess Diana and Prince Charles broke the tradition again when Charles went into the delivery room with his wife both times she was giving birth. Prince William also went into the delivery room for all of his three children’s birth.
Witness at birth
Until the early 1900’s, government officials were needed to witness the birth in order to make sure that everything is legitimate. Home Secretary was the witness for Queen Elizabeth’s birth in 1926. After that, this rule is no longer in action.
Birth announcement
Earlier, the royal birth was shared by the doctor the minute child was born, and it was hand-written. It was put outside Buckingham Palace on an easel, and only the baby’s sex was revealed. It’s still functioning today, even though social media has made it easier.
Crying out the news
At the time when people could read or write, an unofficial town crier would share the news. Today that is Tony Appleton, who is only doing it because he is the royal enthusiast.
Royal salute
A 62-gun salute at the Tower of London in honor of the birth and another 41-gun salute from Green Park are currently near Buckingham Palace. The military showmanship and fanfare are presented to welcome the new baby and let the people mark the occasion.
The first appearance
The baby and the royal parent were first seen at the Christening, but now that is changed. Since there is giving birth at the hospital, the public can see the new baby and their parents as that leave the hospital and head to Buckingham Palace.
Registering the birth
No matter if you are a mere mortal or a royal member, you have to register the birth of your child. The law says that you have 42 days to list the birth into the public record.
Baby gender
The gender was revealed for the first time after the baby was born on an easel at Buckingham Palace. The parents supposedly don’t know the gender of their baby, even though there were rumors about Prince William and Kate already knowing that they would have Prince George. But, the public can’t know until after the baby is born.
Baby names
Every royal family member has from three to four names, and they are usually named after their ancestors. Prince George’s full name is George Alexander Lewis, and he will formally go by His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge. Princess Charlotte’s full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, after William’s mother. She will formally go by Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.
Surnames
During the royal history, they didn’t need any surname as they were often called by the name of the house or dynasty they were a part of. But they had changed their family name as different rulers came. George V (son of Queen Victoria) declared in 1917 that his house will bear the name Windsor. Queen Elizabeth II, in 1960, chose to join her and Prince Philip’s descendants the surname, Mountbatten-Windsor, to separate her own line from the Windsor House. In the Royal Air Force, Prince William used the name “Flight Lieutenant Wales.” Prince George will simply be called “George Cambridge” in his new school.
Christening
This used to be the baby’s first public appearance, so it’s very important to celebrate it appropriately. 62 babies have worn the same Christening gown from Queen Victoria’s era, until the Royals decided to make a duplicate of the gown, in order to preserve the original one. That new gown Prince George wore for the first time, and thus broke the chain. The head of the church always christens the royal children, and today that is Archbishop of Canterbury.
Godparents
When you are royal, its usual to have more than one godparent. Prince George has seven, and Princess Charlotte has five godparents. Since the godparent can’t be a member of the family, close family friends and cousins are chosen for the role.
Royal gifts
In 2013, when Prince George was born, the government of New Zealand gave him a present, a shawl made from merino wool, the same present his father once got when he was born. Fans also can present the royal babies gifts, and that is how Prince George got about 600 presents. He also got to hang out with Michelle and Barack Obama.
School
In the earlier years, royals have been home-schooled, usually by governesses and private tutors. Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret were the last royals who were home-schooled. Prince Charles was first to go to private schools and was the first royal to get a degree after graduating from Trinity College in 1970. Prince William and Prince Harry also went to elite private schools, until William continued on St. Andrews University, and there he found his wife. Harry completed officer commissioning training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Prince George started school this September at Thomas’s Battersea.
Non-royal In-Laws
Traditionally, the grandparents who weren’t a part of the royal family were put aside, and they had nothing to do with their grandchildren’s upbringing. It wasn’t a tradition for royals to mingle themselves with the common people. But now, that is changed, We can see Kate’s mother hanging out with Queen Elizabeth, and Kate’s family involved in her grandchildren’s lives. When her sister Pipa got married, that was the number one story in all of the tabloids around the world.
Male Heirs before the female
In 2013 a new rule was set that says, no matter the gender of the baby, it will be in the line for the throne set by the date of his birth. That was specially set for Prince George, that he stays third in line for the throne, whether he was supposed to be a girl or a boy. Princess Charlotte is fourth in line. It is a known fact that through the history only male members of the royal family were considered for the throne.
Posing for Portraits
Many of the family portraits were first made during the Christening, but it had to be updated as the children grow up. Now, in the modern era, we can see royal official portraits on Instagram and other social media, and the photograph can be taken anywhere they like, so now we get to see adorable children playing around the palace’s garden.
