Pouring rain, thunder and lightning over Buckingham Palace isn’t deterring crowds who have come out to celebrate the arrival of the royal baby.
As soon as news arrived the Duchess had gone into labour on Monday morning enthusiastic royalists and well wishers began to make their way to the palace gates where an easel — the very same one used to announce the arrival of Prince William — has now been erected displaying details of the Prince of Cambridge’s birth.
But to get a glimpse of the official notice, which was transported to the palace from St Mary’s hospital as news of the birth was announced, there’s quite a crowd to get through.
Wrestling through the cheering, dancing and champagne-swilling throng, The Weekly came across 11-year-old Emerson Murphy, whose mum Maree had brought him and his yet-to-be-named teddy bear on the tube to be part of the historic event.
“It’s a bit smelly in there,” he said of the crowd gathered around the gate trying to get a look at the birth notice, “but it’s really cool”.
“Kate has had her first baby and it’s a boy and it’s third in line to the throne. It’s very important,” Emerson, adding that he couldn’t wait to tell his friends how he’d spent his Monday night.
Emerson brought with him a teddy bear wearing a blue jumper that his mum had bought to commemorate the occasion. He’s calling him prince for the moment, but plans to change his name to whatever the baby is called.
“Probably George,” the well-informed 11-year-old guesses, in line with bookmakers’ predictions.
American student Kimberley Cohan celebrated her 21st birthday, which she now shares with the royal baby, by sharing a bottle of champagne with friends on the steps of the Victoria memorial outside the palace.
“This isn’t what I had planned on doing for my birthday, but it’s amazing,” she tells The Weekly.
“In America, we don’t really have royals but everyone loves the royal family, so it’s very cool to share a birthday with the new prince.”
And in any London crowd you’re bound to find a few Aussies.
Brisbane native Gretel Reynolds ventured from her Camden home to get in on the action, meeting up with 20-year-old Woollongong tourists Melanie Elrington and Abigail Too who were amazed their first trip to London had been “so well-timed”.
“Why not come down. It’s an excuse to celebrate, it’s a party down here,” Ms Reynolds said.
Celebrations are expected to last well into the night and continue throughout the week welcoming the most anticipated birth of the year.
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