A Royal Welcome for a Royal Baby

Art credits to Hannah Usadi!

Art credits to Hannah Usadi!

Sejal Agarwal ‘20

A third child is soon to join Kate Middleton and Prince William’s family and the public has welcomed the child with speculation on its name, gender and much more. Kate Middleton’s family already includes her 4-year-old son, Prince George, and her 2-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte. On September 4th, Kensington Palace announced that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting her third child. The public has expressed its joy via numerous tweets and other forms of posts on various social media platforms. Cheryl Ann Tweedy, a former judge and participant on the British singing show, X Factor, tweeted, “Awww congratulations to Will and Kate on their baby news !!” However, the public’s joy was put on hold when it received news that the Duchess was suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, the same acute morning sickness that afflicted her first two pregnancies. Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum include continuous nausea and persistent vomiting, and it affects 2% of all pregnancies.[1] Her condition prevented The Duchess from attending Prince George’s first day of school. Hiral Solanki ’20 adds, “I am sure that the entire family is excited about the expected child but I do feel sorry for the Duchess, she is missing out on some of the milestones of her older children’s lives.”

Neither Kate Middleton, nor the Kensington Palace have confirmed the gender of the baby but this has not stopped the Internet from roaring with speculations. The bets on gender are tied between a girl or a boy but according to a post by E! News, the Duchess wrote a letter to her husband in the voice of their unborn baby and signed it by the name “Alice”. Kaitlin Maratea ‘21 asserts, “Though it is common, I think that Alice is a beautiful name. It reminds of the book Alice in Wonderland and the book accurately reflects her life since she is going to grow up quite frankly, in a wonderland.” However, this just speculation. The odds for the name Alice are at 8/1 followed by Victoria standing at 12/, then Alexandra at 14/1 and finally Mary at 16/1.[2] Meanwhile, a portion of the public has not been afraid to bet on names for a boy either. James and Arthur are the most popular choices with odds at 10/1 followed by Albert and Henry, tied at odds at 16/1.[3] Either way, a life of privilege as well as duty awaits the unborn baby as he/she stands in line for the throne.

The Prince/Princess’ arrival will change the sequence of heirs to the throne. Prince George is third in line to the throne after Prince Charles of Wales, his grandfather and Prince William, his father. Right after Prince George is his younger sister Princess Charlotte, placing her fourth in line to the throne. Consequently, the expected Prince/Princess will be fifth in line to the throne. However, this would not have been the case of it were not for the Succession to the Crown Act of 2013. This Act prevents a younger male heir from over-taking an older female heir in prevalence. The new baby will also push his/her Uncle, Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales, down from fifth to sixth in line to the throne.

 

 

[1] https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hyperemesis-gravidarum/

[2] http://us.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2017090442106/kate-middleton-royal-baby-names/

[3] https://www.skybet.com/current-affairs/royal-specials/event/21197169