A town crier announces the birth of the Prince of Cambridge

This statement was delivered a few minutes ago by Kensington Palace:

“Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm.

The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.

The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.

Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight.”

The news was also announced on an old-fashioned piece of paper, as demanded by royal custom and history to retain “the theatre” expected of any royal occasion. A piece of cream-colored A4-sized Buckingham Palace letterhead, signed by the doctors who assisted the Duchess during the labor and birth, was mounted on a royal easel that last proclaimed the birth of this little boy’s father just over 31 years ago, and it proclaimed:

“Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm     today. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.”

Long live the future King of England!

Update: July 24, 2013: His Royal Highness now has a name — three, in fact. He will be christened George Alexander Louis. And he will be known officially, at least for the time being, as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.