Advice for Princess

Press, 16 February 1984, Page 8

Advice for Princess

NZPA-AFP London The Princess of Wales should be sterilised after the birth of her second child in case more Royal children encourage a copy-cat baby room in Britain, a leading gynaecologist said in an interview published yesterday. Professor Harold Francis, who is also a population growth expert, told “The Sun” that a big increase in the British birth-rate would be disastrous. He said that, “In the sixties, there was nearly a 50 per cent increase in the birth-rate due to the Queen and Princess Margaret hav-

ing babies.” Because of Diana’s popularity, if she had a third child, the position would be “alarming,” he said.

“It would mean a disaster for the country, the obstetrics services, schools and, more importantly, the job situation.” Professor Francis said. He advised sterilisation for the Princess rather than a vasectomy for Prince Charles. Bookmakers were giving odds today of 11 to 10 that the Royal baby would be a girl, evens that it would be a boy, and 25-to-one that the Princess would give birth to twins.