PREPARATIONS IN HAND FOR ROYAL BIRTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1948, Page 5

PREPARATIONS IN HAND FOR ROYAL BIRTH

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14

Jubilant scenes rivalling those of Princess Elizabeth’s wedding last November are expected outside Buckingham Palace, “sometime in November,” at the announcement of the birth of her baby. Already the police are makingplans for coping with the huge crowd which will inevitably demand the appearance on the Palace balcony of the whole Royal Family. 8.8. C. Broad-cast The 8.8. C. plans to broadcast the’ salute of guns heralding the birth, the official statement and any subsequent bulletins about the progress of the mother and child. <. The Home Secretary, Mr Chuter Edo, will travel to the Palace when

summoned there shortly before the baby’s birth. Assembled about the child’s cot will be the Duke of Edinburgh, Their Majesties, the doctors and nurses.

Mr Chuter Ede will make out a birth certificate, notify the Home Office to issue an official statement-and send a telegram' to the Lord Mayor, who will order the great bells of St Paul’s to be rung. These are rung only for a Royal birth or death. Water From River Jordan The baby will be registered with the local registrar like any other child within six weeks of birth. When it is baptised the child will be dressed in the Royal christening robe of old lace which has been used for the baptism of most of Queen Victoria’s descendants. According to custom, water from the River Jordan will be sprinkled on its brow by the Archbishop of York,