This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/world/europe/royal-baby.html
The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Royal Family Says Duchess of Cambridge in Labor | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — After months of ever more frenetic anticipation, the British royal family said Monday that the Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton, had gone to St. Mary’s Hospital in the Paddington district of London to prepare for the birth of her first child and was in the early stages of labor. | LONDON — After months of ever more frenetic anticipation, the British royal family said Monday that the Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton, had gone to St. Mary’s Hospital in the Paddington district of London to prepare for the birth of her first child and was in the early stages of labor. |
| A brief message on Twitter was the first of a series of carefully scripted disclosures set to culminate in the announcement of a birth that seems certain to draw unparalleled media coverage, even in the annals of Britain’s headline-making royal family. | A brief message on Twitter was the first of a series of carefully scripted disclosures set to culminate in the announcement of a birth that seems certain to draw unparalleled media coverage, even in the annals of Britain’s headline-making royal family. |
| “Her royal highness the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London, in the early stages of labour,” said a message from Clarence House, the official residence of the duchess and her husband, Prince William, the duke of Cambridge. | “Her royal highness the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London, in the early stages of labour,” said a message from Clarence House, the official residence of the duchess and her husband, Prince William, the duke of Cambridge. |
| It said the duchess had traveled by car to the hospital from another royal residence, Kensington Palace. Reporters outside the building said the couple had slipped into the facility through a rear entrance, largely unobserved by the waiting press corps. A spokesman for the couple, speaking in return for customary anonymity, said that the duke and duchess had traveled without a police escort. “Things are progressing as normal,” the spokesman said. | It said the duchess had traveled by car to the hospital from another royal residence, Kensington Palace. Reporters outside the building said the couple had slipped into the facility through a rear entrance, largely unobserved by the waiting press corps. A spokesman for the couple, speaking in return for customary anonymity, said that the duke and duchess had traveled without a police escort. “Things are progressing as normal,” the spokesman said. |
| There has been no official word on whether the duke and duchess are expecting a boy or a girl, and information about the birth is expected to be closely restricted. | There has been no official word on whether the duke and duchess are expecting a boy or a girl, and information about the birth is expected to be closely restricted. |
| The formal announcement that a baby has been born will be made in a statement driven by car from the hospital across London and posted on an easel on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. | The formal announcement that a baby has been born will be made in a statement driven by car from the hospital across London and posted on an easel on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. |
| The parents met in the early 2000s when both were students at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland, and their relationship, which was later hailed as a fairy tale union, proceeded sporadically for several years until their wedding in April 2011. | The parents met in the early 2000s when both were students at St. Andrew’s University in Scotland, and their relationship, which was later hailed as a fairy tale union, proceeded sporadically for several years until their wedding in April 2011. |
| In some ways, the phantom of William’s mother, Princess Diana, has hovered over Kate and William, and the duke has frequently made it clear that he wants to protect his wife from the intense media scrutiny associated with his mother. | In some ways, the phantom of William’s mother, Princess Diana, has hovered over Kate and William, and the duke has frequently made it clear that he wants to protect his wife from the intense media scrutiny associated with his mother. |
| For weeks, photographers and camera crews have camped out with stepladders and other equipment outside St. Mary’s, where William, now a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, was himself born in June 1982. | For weeks, photographers and camera crews have camped out with stepladders and other equipment outside St. Mary’s, where William, now a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, was himself born in June 1982. |
| The period preceding the birth, however, has been marked by a remarkable display of restraint among Britain’s usually aggressive tabloids, with no sign of photographs being published after clandestine stakeouts of the royal couple. | The period preceding the birth, however, has been marked by a remarkable display of restraint among Britain’s usually aggressive tabloids, with no sign of photographs being published after clandestine stakeouts of the royal couple. |
| Intrusive and highly competitive coverage of royal events was usual for decades. But Britain’s tabloids have been chastened by public opprobrium resulting from a phone-hacking scandal that led to broad scrutiny by Parliament, the public and the police of the way the media operate. | Intrusive and highly competitive coverage of royal events was usual for decades. But Britain’s tabloids have been chastened by public opprobrium resulting from a phone-hacking scandal that led to broad scrutiny by Parliament, the public and the police of the way the media operate. |
| The baby is expected to be known formally as the prince or princess of Cambridge, and because of recent changes in the law of royal succession, will be the third in line to the throne, after Prince Charles, 64, and William, 31. Prince Harry, the younger son of Charles and Diana, will be fourth. | The baby is expected to be known formally as the prince or princess of Cambridge, and because of recent changes in the law of royal succession, will be the third in line to the throne, after Prince Charles, 64, and William, 31. Prince Harry, the younger son of Charles and Diana, will be fourth. |
| The expected birth has been depicted as offering a likely counterpoint to Britain’s economic austerity, buoying a public mood that has been elevated by a series of sporting successes in cricket, rugby and cycling. An unusual heat wave, meanwhile, has brought picnickers and strollers out in droves across the land in parks, on beaches and at heaths and wilderness areas. | The expected birth has been depicted as offering a likely counterpoint to Britain’s economic austerity, buoying a public mood that has been elevated by a series of sporting successes in cricket, rugby and cycling. An unusual heat wave, meanwhile, has brought picnickers and strollers out in droves across the land in parks, on beaches and at heaths and wilderness areas. |
| The medical team in charge of the birth is led by Marcus Setchell, formerly the gynecologist for Queen Elizabeth II, assisted by Alan Farthing, who took over the position in 2008, news reports said. | The medical team in charge of the birth is led by Marcus Setchell, formerly the gynecologist for Queen Elizabeth II, assisted by Alan Farthing, who took over the position in 2008, news reports said. |
| The duchess is in the Lindo wing of St. Mary’s Hospital, a private obstetric unit charging about $7,500 for normal delivery facilities over 24 hours, apart from consultants’ fees running at about $9,000. | The duchess is in the Lindo wing of St. Mary’s Hospital, a private obstetric unit charging about $7,500 for normal delivery facilities over 24 hours, apart from consultants’ fees running at about $9,000. |
| During a public function at a military barracks in March, a soldier asked her if she knew whether the baby was a boy or a girl, and she replied, “Not yet,” news reports said at the time, quoting the soldier as saying: “She said, ‘I’d like to have a boy, and William would like a girl.’ That’s always the way.” | During a public function at a military barracks in March, a soldier asked her if she knew whether the baby was a boy or a girl, and she replied, “Not yet,” news reports said at the time, quoting the soldier as saying: “She said, ‘I’d like to have a boy, and William would like a girl.’ That’s always the way.” |
| As word of the duchess’s hospitalization whizzed around the world on television, the Internet and social media, the royal family itself put on a determined display of sang-froid, keeping to official engagements and announcing forthcoming public appearances. Prince Charles, the heir to the throne now expecting his first grandchild, visited the National Railway Museum in York. | |
| Several hours after the initial announcement of the duchess’s hospitalization, he was asked if he had heard any news of the birth and told Sky News: “Absolutely nothing at the moment, we’re waiting.” | |
| The royal Twitter account, @BritishMonarchy, said his younger sister Anne, whose title is Princess Royal, would spend part of Tuesday visiting the National Coal Mining Museum in Yorkshire. | |
| Across the way from the hospital on Monday, well-wishers joined the news crew. | Across the way from the hospital on Monday, well-wishers joined the news crew. |
| Wrapped in union jack flags, Maria Scott and her daughter Amy sat on a wooden bench opposite the entrance next to the tent in which they have been sleeping since taking the train from Newcastle in the northeast on Saturday to be closer to the royal couple. “I hope the baby comes soon because it’s been quite hot sleeping in there,” said Ms. Scott, 42, nodding at the tent. | Wrapped in union jack flags, Maria Scott and her daughter Amy sat on a wooden bench opposite the entrance next to the tent in which they have been sleeping since taking the train from Newcastle in the northeast on Saturday to be closer to the royal couple. “I hope the baby comes soon because it’s been quite hot sleeping in there,” said Ms. Scott, 42, nodding at the tent. |
| “I’m a huge fan of the young royals,"she said. “They have that special touch with people no matter what race or gender.” | “I’m a huge fan of the young royals,"she said. “They have that special touch with people no matter what race or gender.” |
| Lucy Corke, a doctor from Brisbane, Australia, who is in London as a tourist said she heard some sirens from her hotel room nearby at about 6 a.m. and wanted to see whether the baby had arrived yet. “I wanted to see how much craziness there is,” she said, pointing at the large group of journalists, tourists and royal-watchers waiting outside the hospital. “I hope it will be a boy,” she said. “A little prince. I think that would be exciting. “ | Lucy Corke, a doctor from Brisbane, Australia, who is in London as a tourist said she heard some sirens from her hotel room nearby at about 6 a.m. and wanted to see whether the baby had arrived yet. “I wanted to see how much craziness there is,” she said, pointing at the large group of journalists, tourists and royal-watchers waiting outside the hospital. “I hope it will be a boy,” she said. “A little prince. I think that would be exciting. “ |
| For their part, British retailers, hotels and ceramic factories are betting on the arrival of the royal baby to improve the otherwise gloomy economic situation. | For their part, British retailers, hotels and ceramic factories are betting on the arrival of the royal baby to improve the otherwise gloomy economic situation. |
| Dave Lockett, owner of a company called Edwardian China, said the pottery manufacturer will be painting the name and date of birth of the new royal on more than 10,000 commemorative plates and other ceramics that were prepared weeks ago. | Dave Lockett, owner of a company called Edwardian China, said the pottery manufacturer will be painting the name and date of birth of the new royal on more than 10,000 commemorative plates and other ceramics that were prepared weeks ago. |
| “We made them pretty generic so that it could be either a boy or girl,” said Mr. Lockett who had to hire extra staff to cope with the order load. “Then it was just a matter of waiting for the big day.” | “We made them pretty generic so that it could be either a boy or girl,” said Mr. Lockett who had to hire extra staff to cope with the order load. “Then it was just a matter of waiting for the big day.” |
| Outside Buckingham Palace, a small crowd of well-wishers began to gather Monday morning, mingling with tourists enjoying London’s sunny weather. Larissa Milare, a law student from Sao Paolo, Brazil, said she had timed her vacation to Britain to coincide with the royal birth. | Outside Buckingham Palace, a small crowd of well-wishers began to gather Monday morning, mingling with tourists enjoying London’s sunny weather. Larissa Milare, a law student from Sao Paolo, Brazil, said she had timed her vacation to Britain to coincide with the royal birth. |
| “I came to London in 2011 when Kate got married — I came specially for the wedding — and now I want to see the announcement,” she said | “I came to London in 2011 when Kate got married — I came specially for the wedding — and now I want to see the announcement,” she said |
| “I really like her, she’s really beautiful and special. In Brazil, all the TV and entertainment channels and newspapers show pictures of the royal family,” added Ms. Milare who said she thought the royal baby would be a girl. | “I really like her, she’s really beautiful and special. In Brazil, all the TV and entertainment channels and newspapers show pictures of the royal family,” added Ms. Milare who said she thought the royal baby would be a girl. |
| Douglas Johnston, an engineer, and Victoria Wallace, a retail manager, both from Glasgow, said that they were on a planned sightseeing trip to London but had hoped that it would coincide with the royal birth. | Douglas Johnston, an engineer, and Victoria Wallace, a retail manager, both from Glasgow, said that they were on a planned sightseeing trip to London but had hoped that it would coincide with the royal birth. |
| “I was hoping and praying that she didn’t go into labor until we got here,” said Ms. Wallace, who added that she hoped that, if the baby is a girl, she is given her name, Victoria. | “I was hoping and praying that she didn’t go into labor until we got here,” said Ms. Wallace, who added that she hoped that, if the baby is a girl, she is given her name, Victoria. |
| “It is a glorious day and it is fantastic to be part of it,” said Mr. Johnston, who said he would wait as long as necessary for the birth announcement. | “It is a glorious day and it is fantastic to be part of it,” said Mr. Johnston, who said he would wait as long as necessary for the birth announcement. |
| “I am 30 so in my adult lifetime this is unprecedented and I may not get the chance to see this again,” he added. | “I am 30 so in my adult lifetime this is unprecedented and I may not get the chance to see this again,” he added. |
John F. Burns, Sarah Lyall, Julia Werdigier and Stephen Castle contributed reporting. | John F. Burns, Sarah Lyall, Julia Werdigier and Stephen Castle contributed reporting. |