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‘Her Royal Highness and the Baby Are Both Doing Well’ ‘Her Royal Highness and the Baby Are Both Doing Well’
(about 16 hours later)
Of all the stories about the British royal family, and they are legion, none beg to start “Once upon a time” quite as insistently as those about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. And now the storybook romance of a mixed-race American actress and her Prince Charming has added another irresistible plotline: the birth of a boy who is “absolutely to die for,” according to his dad, and who will live happily ever after in a home called Frogmore Cottage.Of all the stories about the British royal family, and they are legion, none beg to start “Once upon a time” quite as insistently as those about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. And now the storybook romance of a mixed-race American actress and her Prince Charming has added another irresistible plotline: the birth of a boy who is “absolutely to die for,” according to his dad, and who will live happily ever after in a home called Frogmore Cottage.
The storyteller is free here to throw in that Queen Victoria, the unnamed lad’s 19th-century ancestor, had breakfast at the recently renovated 10-bedroom “cottage” near Windsor Castle and found the many frogs that gave the place its name “quite disgusting.” Evidently they were not all enchanted princes.The storyteller is free here to throw in that Queen Victoria, the unnamed lad’s 19th-century ancestor, had breakfast at the recently renovated 10-bedroom “cottage” near Windsor Castle and found the many frogs that gave the place its name “quite disgusting.” Evidently they were not all enchanted princes.
But then there’s so much else to throw in the story that this detail should get squeezed out. Like the fact that not only is the newborn’s first name not yet known, but nor is his last name, or his title. The betting is on Arthur and James for the former, but they were also the favorites a year ago for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s (Prince William’s and Catherine’s) third child, and he became Louis. As for surname, his parents could choose Mountbatten-Windsor, which some members of the royal family use, or Sussex, since the parents are formally the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, or none, if his great-grandmum, Queen Elizabeth II, chooses to make him a prince, which is her royal prerogative.But then there’s so much else to throw in the story that this detail should get squeezed out. Like the fact that not only is the newborn’s first name not yet known, but nor is his last name, or his title. The betting is on Arthur and James for the former, but they were also the favorites a year ago for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s (Prince William’s and Catherine’s) third child, and he became Louis. As for surname, his parents could choose Mountbatten-Windsor, which some members of the royal family use, or Sussex, since the parents are formally the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, or none, if his great-grandmum, Queen Elizabeth II, chooses to make him a prince, which is her royal prerogative.
Oh, and there’s so much more! There are probably some cynics out there who are asking, as they do whenever the British royalty take over the news and social media, why should we care? But all that does is generate yet more stories, these about why we do care. The explanations range from the morality play of racism overcome in the birth of a boy descended from slaves and kings, or the undertones of racism in how the Harry-Meghan romance is depicted, and on to the simple need for escape from the tedious Brexit mess.Oh, and there’s so much more! There are probably some cynics out there who are asking, as they do whenever the British royalty take over the news and social media, why should we care? But all that does is generate yet more stories, these about why we do care. The explanations range from the morality play of racism overcome in the birth of a boy descended from slaves and kings, or the undertones of racism in how the Harry-Meghan romance is depicted, and on to the simple need for escape from the tedious Brexit mess.
There is what to reflect on in the entry of a descendant of plantation slaves into a royal caste whose members can account for every drop of blue blood in their veins. A central part of the fascination with Harry and Meghan is the decidedly modern dose of reality in every aspect of their story, from the wedding featuring a gospel choir, to her estranged father, Thomas Markle (who was quoted in The Sun saying he was sure his grandson would grow up to serve Britain “with grace, dignity and honor”), as well as the worthy causes they support and the charming way they hold hands in public.There is what to reflect on in the entry of a descendant of plantation slaves into a royal caste whose members can account for every drop of blue blood in their veins. A central part of the fascination with Harry and Meghan is the decidedly modern dose of reality in every aspect of their story, from the wedding featuring a gospel choir, to her estranged father, Thomas Markle (who was quoted in The Sun saying he was sure his grandson would grow up to serve Britain “with grace, dignity and honor”), as well as the worthy causes they support and the charming way they hold hands in public.
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Preparing for the birth of their firstborn, they even tried to break the traditional way royal births are followed and proclaimed, seeking in this, as in the choice of their secluded home, to create a semblance of a private life. Of course, that unleashed a stormy debate over whether royalty are duty-bound to be on constant display. In any case, there was plenty of tradition to be had, including the framed notice on an easel outside Buckingham Palace announcing that the duchess “was safely delivered of a son at 0526am today.”Preparing for the birth of their firstborn, they even tried to break the traditional way royal births are followed and proclaimed, seeking in this, as in the choice of their secluded home, to create a semblance of a private life. Of course, that unleashed a stormy debate over whether royalty are duty-bound to be on constant display. In any case, there was plenty of tradition to be had, including the framed notice on an easel outside Buckingham Palace announcing that the duchess “was safely delivered of a son at 0526am today.”
“Her Royal Highness and the baby are both doing well,” the palace said in a further announcement.“Her Royal Highness and the baby are both doing well,” the palace said in a further announcement.
In the end, there’s really no need to try to explain why the birth of a baby boy to Harry and Meghan is so enthralling. Theirs is a real-life fable in which people of all backgrounds and colors can find echoes of their own lives, their childhood fantasies and dreams, all the while sharing Prince Harry’s timeless wonder at witnessing a birth: “It’s been the most amazing experience I could ever have possibly imagined. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension.”In the end, there’s really no need to try to explain why the birth of a baby boy to Harry and Meghan is so enthralling. Theirs is a real-life fable in which people of all backgrounds and colors can find echoes of their own lives, their childhood fantasies and dreams, all the while sharing Prince Harry’s timeless wonder at witnessing a birth: “It’s been the most amazing experience I could ever have possibly imagined. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension.”
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