Duchess Gives Birth To Son

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29860, 28 June 1962, Page 12

Duchess Gives Birth To Son

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, June 27. The Duke of Kent ordered “champagne for everyone” at Coppins yesterday to celebrate the birth of his 6Jlb son and heir, according to the “Daily Mail.” As the champagne flowed, the Duke personally telephoned members of the Royal Family, to tell them the news.

The baby, which had not been expected until early next week, is tenth in the line of succession to the Throne, and will take the Duke of Kent’s subsidiary title of Earl of St. Andrew’s. Tonight’s Court circular from Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have received with great pleasure the news that the Duchess of Kent gave birth to a son this afternoon." The “Daily Mail” said the baby was expected to be christened George after his grandfather, the present Duke of Kent's father, who died in a plane crash nearly 20 years ago. The Queen would probably lead the list of godparents at the christening at Buckingham Palace next month, the newspaper said. Before her marriage the Duchess was Miss Katharine Worsley, only daughter of Six William and Lady Worsley. At Hovingham Hall tonight, a member of Sir William Worsley’s staff said: "We are all absolutely delighted at the news and are extremely pleased to hear it is a son." The birth took place in a bedroom overlooking the

garden. The birth of the baby was the talk of the village tonight. The bells of the village church, only a quarter of a mile from Coppins, will ring out a peal in honour of the birth this evening. The Women’s Institute, of which the Duchess of Kent is a member, will be presenting the baby with a savings certificate, a traditional village custom. Technically “Commoner” The birth of a son yesterday to the Duke and Duchess of Kent has started a new episode in the history of the Royal Family, according to a report in the "Daily Express.” The newspaper quoted the editor of Debrett’s Peerage, Mr Patrick Montague-Smith, as saying that for the first time a child had been born into the direct male line of the Royal House who was technically a commoner. He was quoted as saying the boy was neither a prince nor “His Royal Highness." Though he would bear his father's courtesy title of Earl of St. Andrew’s, in the eyes of the law he would be "Windsor esq., commonly called the Earl of St. Andrew’s.”