Newspaper review: Royal baby celebrated

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23415737

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After months of waiting and hours of sweltering speculation, three words say it all for the Daily Star, the Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph.

"It's a boy," is the unanimous choice of their headline writers.

The Sun is euphoric - announcing that "the regal has landed".

The paper rejoices that "the moment the world has waited for" has finally arrived, bringing "to William and Kate a son; to the nation a future king".

In honour of the occasion, the paper has temporarily changed its name to "the Son" in its masthead - something it explains it has never done before and is unlikely to do again.

The Times and the Mirror are among several papers to rush out special souvenir pull-out editions to welcome the new prince.

'Fashionably retro'

Many note that the the proud parents delayed making the birth announcement immediately so they could enjoy some private time with their baby - and perhaps to ponder what to call him.

The Daily Telegraph is betting on "something fashionably retro like Albert or Alfred".

The Guardian's money is on George or James and the Times cautions against waiting with bated breath.

In keeping with tradition, it says, the final decision may not come for some time yet.

The Daily Mail notes that the new prince is the heaviest future king in 100 years, weighing in nearly 20 ounces more than his father and a pound more than his granddad.

The paper concludes that this is undoubtedly a baby of healthy parents and someone who is likely to bring a hefty boost to the UK economy.

It predicts that sales of royal souvenirs and commemorative merchandise are set to soar - in what jubilant bookmakers have described as the biggest non-sporting event in their history.

Sales rush

The Telegraph agrees and says it is not the heatwave or recent sporting glories that have brought the feelgood factor back.

The royal baby, it believes, could trigger a £243m boost for the High Street over the next two months with a rush on sales of whatever cot, buggy or baby clothes are chosen for the young heir to the throne.

The paper's Matt cartoon pictures a woman holding a tea-towel emblazoned with the words: "Royal baby."

Underneath, the caption reads: "The souvenir tea towels are coming 20 minutes apart."

Defeat warning

The Guardian reflects on Labour pains of a different kind.

It reflects that Ed Miliband is heading for a showdown in the spring over union membership and funding.

It warns that the Labour leader is gambling his leadership and putting his authority on the line by picking a fight over an issue that the public care little about.

The Independent agrees, warning that a humiliating defeat is on the cards.

It is sceptical of the plan to use a special conference next March to approve a proposal that three million trade union members would have to opt in to funding the party, rather than the present system of opting out.

This will invite comparisons with Tony Blair's "clause four moment", it says, but it doubts that voters will see it as an equally symbolic split with the past.