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| Baby Cambridge - how the national newspapers covered the royal birth | Baby Cambridge - how the national newspapers covered the royal birth |
| (2 months later) | |
| A new heir to the throne is born and national newspaper editors have bowed low in obeisance. They greeted the arrival of the royal baby with countless pages of gushing copy and photographs. | A new heir to the throne is born and national newspaper editors have bowed low in obeisance. They greeted the arrival of the royal baby with countless pages of gushing copy and photographs. |
| Bumper editions, boosted by a variety of souvenir supplements, were devoted to a single fact story that could have been told in a sentence. | Bumper editions, boosted by a variety of souvenir supplements, were devoted to a single fact story that could have been told in a sentence. |
| Royal events are like no other in newspapers, however. Every possible angle is explored with dutiful historic reminiscence and trivial speculation from so-called experts. | Royal events are like no other in newspapers, however. Every possible angle is explored with dutiful historic reminiscence and trivial speculation from so-called experts. |
| Finding pictures to accompany such guff was easy enough because there is an abundant digital archive of photographs of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. | Finding pictures to accompany such guff was easy enough because there is an abundant digital archive of photographs of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. |
| But where was the defining news picture to grace the front pages? None of the photographers who have been camped outside St Mary's hospital in Paddington for the past two weeks were able to oblige. | But where was the defining news picture to grace the front pages? None of the photographers who have been camped outside St Mary's hospital in Paddington for the past two weeks were able to oblige. |
| Not even the most optimistic of snappers amid the horde could have been expecting the Duchess of Cambridge to rise from her bed with her baby in her arms. | Not even the most optimistic of snappers amid the horde could have been expecting the Duchess of Cambridge to rise from her bed with her baby in her arms. |
| Their hopes of Prince William making an appearance on the steps were also frustrated. So what was to be done? How could editors mark what an effusive prime minister, David Cameron, called "an important moment in the life of our nation" with enough panache to catch the eye on the newsstands? | Their hopes of Prince William making an appearance on the steps were also frustrated. So what was to be done? How could editors mark what an effusive prime minister, David Cameron, called "an important moment in the life of our nation" with enough panache to catch the eye on the newsstands? |
| The Sun came up with a neat trick by recasting its masthead title as "The Son" over a picture of the easel placed outside Buckingham Palace with the official bulletin of the royal birth. | The Sun came up with a neat trick by recasting its masthead title as "The Son" over a picture of the easel placed outside Buckingham Palace with the official bulletin of the royal birth. |
| Three papers (Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and Daily Star) chose exactly the same line, It's a boy, overprinted on library pictures of the duchess | Three papers (Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and Daily Star) chose exactly the same line, It's a boy, overprinted on library pictures of the duchess |
| Metro, also featuring a photo of a smiling Kate, chose Oh boy! Showing great restraint, it ran only six pages. By contrast, the Daily Mail devoted its first 18 news pages to the story. Its counter-intuitive front page carried a picture of Prince Charles with the headline Oh boy! One's a grandpa. | Metro, also featuring a photo of a smiling Kate, chose Oh boy! Showing great restraint, it ran only six pages. By contrast, the Daily Mail devoted its first 18 news pages to the story. Its counter-intuitive front page carried a picture of Prince Charles with the headline Oh boy! One's a grandpa. |
| The Daily Mirror used a page 1 picture of the royal couple and the headline "Our little prince." Eleven pages followed plus a leading article extolling the arrival of "the History Boy". | The Daily Mirror used a page 1 picture of the royal couple and the headline "Our little prince." Eleven pages followed plus a leading article extolling the arrival of "the History Boy". |
| The Times, which publishes wraparounds for all big stories of late, headlined it "Welcome to the world", and on its "real" front page it preferred the sonorous "A prince is born". Nine news pages followed, plus a "special commemorative supplement" and also a "family tree pullout". | The Times, which publishes wraparounds for all big stories of late, headlined it "Welcome to the world", and on its "real" front page it preferred the sonorous "A prince is born". Nine news pages followed, plus a "special commemorative supplement" and also a "family tree pullout". |
| The Guardian's headline, "A birth, a boy, a prince, a king," was rather lyrical. It ran only four news pages inside, double the amount to be found in The Independent, the paper with a history of republicanism. | The Guardian's headline, "A birth, a boy, a prince, a king," was rather lyrical. It ran only four news pages inside, double the amount to be found in The Independent, the paper with a history of republicanism. |
| The Indy did not splash on the story, running only a front page picture with a caption headline pointing to the "global media feeding frenzy". | The Indy did not splash on the story, running only a front page picture with a caption headline pointing to the "global media feeding frenzy". |
| Its little sister, i, ran a poster-style front with a picture of the easel outside the palace and a headline, "Born to rule", that hinted at its republican agenda. | Its little sister, i, ran a poster-style front with a picture of the easel outside the palace and a headline, "Born to rule", that hinted at its republican agenda. |
| The Financial Times, which believes business makes the world go round and favours meritocracy rather than aristocracy, was the most restrained of all the national papers. It carried a front page picture, a very short news story on page 2, Royal birth ends days of waiting, plus a short piece by Matthew Engel, Time to get used to 'God Save the King' again, in which he pointed out that the duchess had had a shorter period of labour than the attendant media. | The Financial Times, which believes business makes the world go round and favours meritocracy rather than aristocracy, was the most restrained of all the national papers. It carried a front page picture, a very short news story on page 2, Royal birth ends days of waiting, plus a short piece by Matthew Engel, Time to get used to 'God Save the King' again, in which he pointed out that the duchess had had a shorter period of labour than the attendant media. |
| What the papers said in their editorials | What the papers said in their editorials |
| The Telegraph ("Everyone can celebrate a child born to be king") was, unsurprisingly, staunchly monarchist in tone and scorned those who are not: | The Telegraph ("Everyone can celebrate a child born to be king") was, unsurprisingly, staunchly monarchist in tone and scorned those who are not: |
| "Britain is readier now to declare itself in favour of the monarchy than a generation ago. This only reflects the arguments of republicans, which are threadbare and theoretical, whereas the benefits of the monarchy have been tried and tested by any Briton alive. | "Britain is readier now to declare itself in favour of the monarchy than a generation ago. This only reflects the arguments of republicans, which are threadbare and theoretical, whereas the benefits of the monarchy have been tried and tested by any Briton alive. |
| Nor is it an objection that an heir comes by accident of birth. Accidents of birth are the way that families continue in being, and a family is a microcosm of the kingdom." | Nor is it an objection that an heir comes by accident of birth. Accidents of birth are the way that families continue in being, and a family is a microcosm of the kingdom." |
| It concluded: "When any baby is born we may want to ring bells in celebration. For a prince, we can, and the big guns too will fire 41 times in salute. This is something we are not shy to make a noise about." | It concluded: "When any baby is born we may want to ring bells in celebration. For a prince, we can, and the big guns too will fire 41 times in salute. This is something we are not shy to make a noise about." |
| The Telegraph also ran a fawning piece by Christopher Wilson about the Queen's part in the recovery of the Windsor's family's fortunes. | The Telegraph also ran a fawning piece by Christopher Wilson about the Queen's part in the recovery of the Windsor's family's fortunes. |
| The Times ("A future monarch is born") also argued that the British royal family is in fine fettle: "Our affection for the monarchy is not unconditional, but if repaid with pride, duty and the right hint of humour, it is almost unbounded." | The Times ("A future monarch is born") also argued that the British royal family is in fine fettle: "Our affection for the monarchy is not unconditional, but if repaid with pride, duty and the right hint of humour, it is almost unbounded." |
| The Express ("A summer of joy with arrival of a royal heir") ran a full-page editorial. It said: "As long as we remain a hereditary monarchy, yesterday was rightly a national event. | The Express ("A summer of joy with arrival of a royal heir") ran a full-page editorial. It said: "As long as we remain a hereditary monarchy, yesterday was rightly a national event. |
| "But let's not forget that it was a long, arduous personal one too for the young woman at the centre of it all. For her and her husband the coming days will no doubt bring all the joys and stresses that every new parent before them has faced. This newspaper sends congratulations and the best of British luck to them." | "But let's not forget that it was a long, arduous personal one too for the young woman at the centre of it all. For her and her husband the coming days will no doubt bring all the joys and stresses that every new parent before them has faced. This newspaper sends congratulations and the best of British luck to them." |
| The Guardian ("Welcome, Baby Cambridge") began by saying that "a new baby is a very splendid thing" before looking back at the tribulations of the ruling family. The it concludes: | The Guardian ("Welcome, Baby Cambridge") began by saying that "a new baby is a very splendid thing" before looking back at the tribulations of the ruling family. The it concludes: |
| "Baby Cambridge is unlikely to inherit for at least 50 years. However exemplary the reigns of his father and grandfather, however impeccable his own future behaviour, will Britain in 2065 still be a state that has at its apex one individual whose place is decided by birth? | "Baby Cambridge is unlikely to inherit for at least 50 years. However exemplary the reigns of his father and grandfather, however impeccable his own future behaviour, will Britain in 2065 still be a state that has at its apex one individual whose place is decided by birth? |
| Since the one thing that we have learned in the last 50 years is that monarchy has a logic-defying resilience, it looks as if the answer could be yes." | Since the one thing that we have learned in the last 50 years is that monarchy has a logic-defying resilience, it looks as if the answer could be yes." |
| The Mail ("Health and long life to the People's Prince") also took "chippy republicans" to task for their failure to grasp that "the birth of an heir in direct line of descent from the throne is an occasion of special significance and celebration." | The Mail ("Health and long life to the People's Prince") also took "chippy republicans" to task for their failure to grasp that "the birth of an heir in direct line of descent from the throne is an occasion of special significance and celebration." |
| It went on to praise the duchess's humble beginnings: "This paper takes special pleasure in welcoming a prince who will be our first sovereign with a substantial proportion of middle and working-class blood in his veins." | It went on to praise the duchess's humble beginnings: "This paper takes special pleasure in welcoming a prince who will be our first sovereign with a substantial proportion of middle and working-class blood in his veins." |
| The Mail praises the Queen for pioneering "the gradual evolution of the monarchy during her long reign" and contends that "the British monarchy plays a vital constitutional role in containing the over-mighty ambitions of vainglorious politicians." | The Mail praises the Queen for pioneering "the gradual evolution of the monarchy during her long reign" and contends that "the British monarchy plays a vital constitutional role in containing the over-mighty ambitions of vainglorious politicians." |
| The Sun ("The Sun and the son") remarked on the royal family's "steady rise in popularity over the last 15 years" and continued: "Britain's love for the Queen has never wavered much in 61 years. | The Sun ("The Sun and the son") remarked on the royal family's "steady rise in popularity over the last 15 years" and continued: "Britain's love for the Queen has never wavered much in 61 years. |
| "But the country did grow indifferent to the royals in the 1990s when the marriages of Charles, Anne and Andrew all hit the rocks. How Wills and brother Harry have turned that around." | "But the country did grow indifferent to the royals in the 1990s when the marriages of Charles, Anne and Andrew all hit the rocks. How Wills and brother Harry have turned that around." |
| The Mirror ("A nation's joy at our royal boy") said: "We aren't celebrating alone in Britain – we often forget how many countries would love to have our royal family." | The Mirror ("A nation's joy at our royal boy") said: "We aren't celebrating alone in Britain – we often forget how many countries would love to have our royal family." |
| Other countries might, but the Mirror dares to publish an article by someone who does not love the royals - republican columnist Brian Reade. | Other countries might, but the Mirror dares to publish an article by someone who does not love the royals - republican columnist Brian Reade. |
| It gives him big space to describe the pain felt by the 25% of the population who have not been overjoyed by the birth. He writes: | It gives him big space to describe the pain felt by the 25% of the population who have not been overjoyed by the birth. He writes: |
| "For millions of Britons, being asked to celebrate that a stranger is being born into a life of the highest privilege just because a sperm of a royal fertilised an upper middle-class woman's egg, is as jarring as it is baffling." | "For millions of Britons, being asked to celebrate that a stranger is being born into a life of the highest privilege just because a sperm of a royal fertilised an upper middle-class woman's egg, is as jarring as it is baffling." |
| The Son and The Sun - the Currant Bun tops the puns | The Son and The Sun - the Currant Bun tops the puns |
| Obviously, The Son was the winner. The paper tried a couple more inside with "Regal has landed", "Nappy and glorious" and "Ain't he tweet." | Obviously, The Son was the winner. The paper tried a couple more inside with "Regal has landed", "Nappy and glorious" and "Ain't he tweet." |
| But the Star did much better in its early edition with "We've waited heir all day." Sadly, it substituted that later with the mundane "We couldn't be happier." | But the Star did much better in its early edition with "We've waited heir all day." Sadly, it substituted that later with the mundane "We couldn't be happier." |
| The Mail won the anorak statistic contest with this headline: "At 8lb 6oz, he's the heaviest future king in 100 years." Enough, enough. | The Mail won the anorak statistic contest with this headline: "At 8lb 6oz, he's the heaviest future king in 100 years." Enough, enough. |
| Back to Citizen Reade: "Many millions of British citizens (or subjects as the new prince will eventually call us) are more concerned with trying to find a job, keeping their kids away from crime, paying their bills, losing their star striker to Chelsea or what they're having for their tea." Hear, hear! | Back to Citizen Reade: "Many millions of British citizens (or subjects as the new prince will eventually call us) are more concerned with trying to find a job, keeping their kids away from crime, paying their bills, losing their star striker to Chelsea or what they're having for their tea." Hear, hear! |
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