Newborn baby's birth fuels new popularity for Britain's royals

The world was awaiting the first glimpse of Britain's new prince on Tuesday, with camera crews poised to photograph Prince William and his wife, Kate, leaving a London hospital with their baby son.

Kate, 31, gave birth to the couple's first child, who is third in line to the British throne, on Monday afternoon, ending weeks of feverish anticipation about the arrival.

The popular couple is expected to adhere to tradition by giving the public the first sight of the royal baby on the steps as they leave St. Mary's Hospital in west London - just as William's father, Prince Charles, and late mother, Princess Diana, did with him.

"We're here to witness history, where a future monarch has been born. I just can't wait to see them today," said Maria Scott, a housewife from Newcastle in northern England who has camped outside the hospital since Saturday.

Kensington Palace announced the arrival of the boy, weighing 3.8 kg at about 8:30 pm, on Monday, four hours after his birth, saying Kate and her child were doing well and would remain in the hospital overnight.

William, who said he and Kate could not be happier, was with them.

Their son is third in line to the throne after grandfather Charles and William, 31, and pushes the fun-loving Prince Harry, William's brother, into fourth place.

Congratulations flooded in from around the world after the announcement of the birth, which was followed moment-by-moment by global media as well as the British press.

US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, led tributes, wishing the new parents "all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings".

"Given the special relationship between us, the US people are pleased to join with the people of the United Kingdom as they celebrate the birth of the young prince," the president said in a White House statement.

Royal Popularity

The birth fuels a new wave of popularity for the House of Windsor led by the younger royals, William and Harry.

Support for the royals dipped after Diana's death in a car crash in Paris in 1997, a year after her divorce from Charles, as the royals were accused of being out of touch with modern Britain over their handling of the aftermath.

But last year's celebrations of Queen Elizabeth's 60th year on the throne showed support for the monarchy was running at a record high.

Hordes of TV crews and photographers, and royal fans wrapped in Union Jack flags, remained camped outside the hospital on Monday, waiting for the first photo of the baby, who will be the Prince of Cambridge.

There will also be a 41-gun salute at London's Green Park and 62 rounds fired at the Tower of London on Tuesday to herald news of the birth.

Reuters-AFP

(China Daily 07/24/2013 page10)