Thousands of joyful spectators popped open bottles of champagne, cheered on and craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the official notice of the birth of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first child, outside Buckingham Palace on Monday.
Shortly after the birth of the baby boy, the centre of attention remained the golden easel upon which an official placed the formal birth announcement. However, before all these celebrations and merriment, many had speculated what the gender of the royal baby will be.
Camera flashes lit up the evening scene outside the queen’s official residence as dozens of people tried to immortalise the moment when it was announced that the third in line to the British throne had been born.
The crowds pressed against the iron gates of Buckingham Palace and spilled onto the steps of the huge statues of Queen Victoria and other monarchs in the plaza in front of the vast building.
Cheers went up outside the palace the minute the announcement came, as they did at the central London hospital where the baby was born and where more well-wishers gathered along with hundreds from the international press.
Old wives tales
A blog for ABC News quoted a New York-based gynaecologist’s prediction that Kate will deliver a girl because of the “signs” she saw. She based her guess upon her experience of being in the ob-gyn field for over 13 years.
What can be called a mix of old wives’ tales, personal and professional experience, Dr Jennifer Ashton said that Kate’s face, her baby bump and persistent morning sickness in the first trimester indicated that she was pregnant with a girl. Rumour has it that Will even called Kate “Chipmunk Cheeks” because of her expanding cheeks.
‘Moon-induced’ labour
A spate of speculations took over as many believed that the full moon induced Kate’s first contractions. This links back to an old wives’ tale that full moon affects the embryonic fluid the same way it affects tides.
Daily Mail quoted Mervi Jokinen of the Royal College of Midwives as saying that often a full moon makes for a busy spate of deliveries. Acknowledging that it was purely anecdotal, Jokinen said, “Midwives usually do say ‘I’m on call. It’s a full moon. I’ll be busy tonight’.”
Possible baby names
As England waits to get the first glimpse of its future kind, people are anxiously placing bets on possible names for the baby. According to Mail Online, Elizabeth, Diana, Charles and Philip are immediate references to the royal family and also are popular choices amongst those placing bets on the name. The most favourite names, however, remained Alexandra for a girl and George for a boy. Tyler, Richard, Louis and Albert also made it to the list. Some playfully made Game of Thrones references, and joked that the baby be called Joffrey.
QUIRKY TWITTER REACTIONS
I can't believe they've already priced the baby. 8 pounds isn't even that much :( #RoyalBaby
— Jenny Johnson (@JennyJohnsonHi5) July 22, 2013
That awkward moment when the #RoyalBaby is ginger…
— Roy Cropper (@RoyCropperNOT) July 22, 2013
BBC pointing out the #RoyalBaby has been born on a full moon. Not sure if they're suggesting it's a werewolf. We may not know for a while.
— The Media Blog (@TheMediaTweets) July 22, 2013
This isn't your baby Kate. Apparently it is our baby. All of us.
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) July 22, 2013
It's a boy! So happy for my cousin Kate and the future King of England!
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) July 22, 2013
To keep up with other power couples the new Royal Baby should be named North Westminster
— Dave Thornton (@dave_thorno) July 23, 2013
Kate Middleton's Baby, congratulations! :) http://t.co/q5lNY8bq1E
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashearn) July 23, 2013
EPIC!!!! a new prince was born. its like real life Game of Thrones #royalbaby
— Jack Osbourne (@MrJackO) July 22, 2013
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2013.
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