PRINCESS AND SON

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25654, 17 November 1948, Page 5

PRINCESS AND SON

Royal Baby’s Weight “Nearly Ideal” CONGRATULATIONS POUR IN AT PALACE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) * LONDON, November 15. Princess Elizabeth's son weighed 71b 6oz at birth, which is very nearly the gynaecologist's ideal weight for a baby boy. Sir William Gilliatt and Sir John Weir saw Princess Elizabeth to-night, but no bulletin was issued after their first visit, and no further bulletin was to be issued until to-morrow morning.

Reuter’s Court correspondent said that this was the first indication that the Princess’s condition was quite satisfactory. This morning’s bulletin saying that the Princess had “some sleep’* was taken to indicate that she had not an entirely undisturbed night, but that this was causing no anxiety, being the general experience after a birth.

Although rain persisted throughout the evening and the police assured the people that there was “nothing doing,” a small crowd obstinately clustered in mackintoshes before the Buckingham Palace railings.

Princess Elizabeth’s sister. Princess Margaret, was 61b lloz at birth. Prince William oi Gloucester was 71b, the Duke of Kent 61b 12oz; Princess Alexandra of Kent 61b Boz, and Prince Michael of Kent 71b 4oz. Princess Elizabeth’s weight at birth was given as ‘‘a little below the average.” Princess Elizabeth will be able to feed her son’ herself. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Their Majesties will choose the Prince’s names within the next few days. The last Sunday birth of a Royal heir-took place, as far as the records can be more than 200 years ago, when George 111 was born on June 4, 1738. , Among the callers at the Palace today were Queen Mary, who saw her great-grandson for the second time, the Duchess of Gloucester and Prince William, and the Duchess of Kent. Prince William took a basket of red roses and a letter written in his own hand for Princess Elizabeth.

King Frederik of Denmark sent a personal message to Princess Elizabeth on the birth of her baby. King Frederik’s aide said that he did not know the contents of the message as King Frederik had delivered it personally to the Royal Palace Post Office. It is rumoured in Denmark that King Frederik may sponsor the Prince. Parliament’s Congratulations Saying that the House of Commons would like the opportunity to express its satisfaction and jov at the happy event, Mr Attlee gave notice that ne would move a motion of congratulation to Their Majesties. Princess Elizabeth, and the Duke or Edinburgh tomorrow.

A statement issued from No. 10 Downing Street said; “Cabinet, at its meeting this morning, expressed deep satisfaction at the birth of a son to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, and asked Mr Attlee to convey to Their Majesties and Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh warm congratulations upon the happy event.”

More than 4000 telegrams of congratulations had been received at Buckingham Palace by 6 p.m. yesterday. It was the greatest number of telegrams ever received at the Court Post Office in a single dav. Six guns of the King’s Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery, drawn up in fired a saJ ute at 1 p.m. G.M.r. A crowd of several thousand, including many children, watched in a downpour the colourful spectacle, with the gunners in their full dress uniforms of blue, gold, and scarlet, with black busbies and white plumes. The gunners swept through the Marble Arch, which is reserved normally for Royalty, The police had to keep the crowd back from the firing point. As the guns boomed out, all the ships in the Pool of London responded with their sirens. The United States warships Columbus and Hamul, al Plymouth, joined British warships in a 21-gun Royal Salute. A series of 21-gun salutes were fired from Windsor Castle, Edinburgh Castle, and also from Stirling and Rosyth. In Norfolk, Virginia, American shore batteries echoed a 21-gun salute to the R°ya! baby when H.M.S. Duke of York, flagship of the British Home Fleet, steamed into port after exercises in the Caribbean. The Duke of York flred the salute as she dropped anchor at the start of her official visit to the headquarters of the United States Atlantic Fleet. The Ministry of Works has announced that the new Trafalgar Square fountains will be illuminated day and night for the next three days as part of the public celebrations to mark the birth of the Prince. The prevailing colour of the fountain lights will be blue for a boy. World-wide Response Flags, gun salvoes, church bells, and a stream of radio and cabled congratulations expressed the world-wide joy at the birth of the future heir to the Throne of Britain. From a single Union Jack over the British Embassy in Moscow to the flag-dressed great cities of the Commonwealth, the picture was of general rejoicing. Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard sent congratulations to the Royal Family, offering the parents their “congratulations and best wishes for you three,” and to Their Majesties, “warmest congratulations at the birth of your grandson.” President «Truman and Mrs Truman cabled to Princess Elizabeth from Key West: “Mrs Truman and I are delighted at the news of the birth of your son. We felicitate you and the Duke on this happy occasion.”

The President of Italy (Mr Luigi Einaudi) sent a congratulatory message to Their Majesties. A huge bouquet of Swiss roses and carnations was flown from Switzerland with greetings to Princess Elizabeth from Swiss horticulturists. Princess Elizabeth and the Duke also received messages from the Secretary of State for Air (Mr Arthur Henderson) on behalf of the Air Council, and from the President of Eire (Mr Sean T. O’Kelly). An illuminated bus carrying a message “God Bless our toured Belfast.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews sent telegrams to the Royal Family, saying that the birth had “caused much joy to the Anglo-Jewish community.” The Mayor of Scarborough presented silver spoons embossed with the borough seal to children born in Scarborough on the same day as the Prince. Four births were reported. The Colonial Office has announced that public holidays will be declared in some of Britain’s colonies in honour of the birth, because in many territories there were not guns to fire a

Royal Salute and the Governors felt that flying flags alone was not an adequate token. Only the small number of Russians who listen to the 8.8. C, or read the British Embassy journal knew of the birth, as the Russian newspapers normally ignore all Royal affairs. The New York “Sun” said: “It would be foolish to take the position that this is just another baby. This helpless bit of humanity may some day sit on the British Throne, and thereby become a rallying point for the loyalties of peoples of all races and colours throughout the world.” The New York Communist papef, “Daily Worker,” under a single column headline, “Royal Stork Brings Boy,” relegated its report to an inside page, and led with “An Englishwoman to-night gave birth to a baby boy.”

MR FRASER SENDS MESSAGE

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON. November 15. The Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Fraser) sent from Paris a message of congratulations to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on the birth of their son. The High Commissioner for New Zealand <Mr W. J. Jordan) called at Buckingham Palace and signed the visitors* book. Mr Fraser’s message said: “May I add my own personal congratulations and good wishes to those of the Government and people of New Zealand, and express with deop respect my heartfelt thankfulness that your Royal Highness and the Prince are both well *