Britain Turns Pink for its New Princess: Special Lighting for Some of UK's Most Famous Landmarks as Country Celebrates Royal Baby
- Iconic landmarks across the country have been bathed in pink light to celebrate birth of a new Royal baby
- Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Jubilee Bridge in London have all turned fuchsia to welcome the Princess
- The baby is Britain's first princess to be born in the direct line of succession since Princess Anne back in 1950
Daily Mail UK, 3 May 2015
To celebrate the birth of Britain's first Princess since 1950 landmarks across the capital have been bathed in pink light.
The as yet unnamed Princess's birth was announced at the top of London's iconic BT Tower, with a rolling pink banner which proclaimed 'It's a girl!'
Then, as night fell on the capital Tower Bridge was lit up in a vibrant shade of pink, much to the delight of Londoners and tourists alike.
Following the announcement of the birth Westminster Council tweeted:
'Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, landmarks in Westminster will be turning pink tonight to celebrate the new #RoyalBaby'.
The Golden Jubilee Bridge and the London Eye have also been lit up in the the Princess's honour.
Meanwhile Hilton London Paddington, the fountain at Merchant Square in Paddington Basin were both lit up in pink while pink bunting was hung outside St Mary's Hospital.
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To celebrate the birth of Britain's first Princess since 1950, iconic landmarks across the country have been bathed in pink light
Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, appear with their baby daughter outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital
The tiny new Princess slept as her proud parents showed her off to the world's media just hours after her birth yesterday
The London Eye even offered couples that share the same first names as The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a free rotation today to celebrate the day the baby was born.
Couples named William and Kate were able to claim free tickets for a rotation on the iconic London landmark.
William and Kate’s new daughter, a younger sister for Prince George, who was born at the same hospital in July 2013, is fourth in line to the throne.
Although she is unlikely to ever become queen, it is not unheard of for a second child in the direct line of succession to accede to the throne.
Mostly recently the Queen’s own father, King George VI, replaced his elder brother, King Edward VIII, who abdicated over his love for the ‘unsuitable’ American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
Thanks to a recent change in the law, the couple’s daughter cannot be superseded in her claim to the throne by any younger brother who may yet come along.
The Succession to the Crown Act, passed in 2013, means that male heirs no longer precede their elder sisters in the line of succession
A 2012 intervention by the Queen also means that the new baby will automatically become an HRH – Her Royal Highness – and be permitted to take the title of princess.
As the second child of the second heir to the throne she would, until then, only have been a Lady.
Her arrival will shunt her uncle, Prince Harry, down to fifth in the order of succession. Her great uncle, Prince Andrew, will fall out of the top five for the first time to sixth.
Many royal watchers had been desperately hoping for a girl – the last to be born in the direct line of succession was Princess Anne back in 1950.
Both Prince Charles and William’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, both openly longed for a girl to add to their family.
Belfast City Hall (pictured) has also been bathed in pink light to welcome the brand new royal baby to the world
The Golden Jubilee Bridge and the London Eye are lit up to celebrate the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's daughter
Following the announcement of the royal birth Westminster Council announced landmarks in Westminster would be turning pink
The Golden Jubilee Bridge (pictured top) and Trafalgar Square have also been lit up in pink to herald the newborn's arrival
HOW THE PALACE BROKE THE NEWS
It was a very modern Royal birth, with Kensington Palace keeping the public informed about events in a series of succinct tweets.
But it was also marked in more traditional style, with a formal announcement posted on an easel at the gates of Buckingham Palace.
Four hours after a tweet announced the new arrival, two liveried footmen emerged from the Palace to place the paper document, signed by the delivery team at St Mary’s Hospital, on the same gold-painted easel that was used for the birth of Prince George and Prince William.
It was a very modern Royal birth, with Kensington Palace keeping the public informed about events in a series of succinct tweets
An easel is placed by two footmen in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London to announce the birth of a Royal baby girl
The honour fell to George Oates, 26, from North Yorkshire, and Simon Garnett, 30, from Cumbria, who wore red waistcoats and black tails as they carried the special announcement to the front of the Palace.
But politicians, Church leaders and celebrities all rushed to their Twitter feeds to swell the deluge of messages of congratulations.
David Cameron tweeted: ‘I’m absolutely delighted for them.’ Ed Miliband posted: ‘Wishing them lots of joy and happiness – and hopefully some sleep!’ And Nick Clegg said he and wife Miriam wished them ‘all the best as their family grows’.
London Mayor Boris Johnson tweeted: ‘Huge congratulations to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby girl. I know Londoners will join me in wishing them well.’
Ukip leader Nigel Farage encouraged a toast, but took the opportunity to make a Eurosceptic point, saying he was happy the baby’s weight had been announced in ‘proper’ imperial measurements.
Good wishes also came in from US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, as well as the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
One of the most inventive was from the crew of HMS Lancaster, known as the ‘Queen’s frigate’, who formed up on deck to spell out ‘Sister’.
Neither the Queen, who was on an official visit in Yorkshire, nor Prince Harry, who is in Australia, made an immediate comment.
One of the most inventive 'congratulations' was from the crew of HMS Lancaster who formed up on deck to spell out ‘sister’
Trafalgar Square lit up pink to celebrate the birth of the royal baby girl - the as yet unnamed child is now fourth in line for the throne
Meanwhile all around the globe people were raising a glass as the royal princess's birth quickly made headlines around the world.
News outlets on every continent announced the birth of Britain's princess, with most favouring a simple headline of 'It's a girl!' in a various languages.
The Sydney Morning Herald picked up on the presence of town crier Tony Appleton, with a headline of 'Oyez, oyez, oyez' A Royal Princess: (Unofficial) Town crier on the steps of St Mary's Hospital announces the news of the royal birth'.
The story also had top billing on the front page of the New York Post website, with the first line reading: 'A princess is born.'
The BT tower celebrated the news with a rolling purple banner which read 'it's a girl' this afternoon in central London
Queen wears pink after the birth of Great Granddaughter;
USA Today posted: 'Prince George meets his new baby sister!'
The New York Times and Washington Post gave the story less billing and a more serious tone.
CNN's website started its story with: 'The wait for the second royal baby is over. And it's a princess!'.
In Israel the Jerusalem Post ran the headline 'Mazel Tov! Will and Kate welcome a new baby girl'.
The Times of India went with: 'The fourth in line to the British throne is a girl.
The New York Times produced a dry Biblical take on events in a later version of its story, with correspondent Steven Erlanger writing: 'Lo, and it came to pass at last on Saturday morning, unto Kate, who was late, a child was born - a baby girl, who will be fourth in line to the British throne.
'There was much rejoicing in the land, especially among the many who had placed their bets on her having a girl, while others await a further windfall, if they guess right on what name will be chosen.'
The Hilton Hotel in Paddington is lit up in pink tonight to celebrate the birth of a royal princess just around the corner at St Mary's Hospital
The Merchant Square Fountain in Paddington Basin has been lit up as part of city-wide celebrations following the birth
MORE;
Here Come the Grandparents (and Auntie Pippa-Carole Middleton): Visit Baby Princess at Kensington Palace as Kate and William Relax at Home with Their Newborn Daughter
- Prince William and Kate Middleton took their newborn daughter home last night just 10 hours after she was born
- Carole and Pippa Middleton were the first to visit the newborn today, arriving at Kensington Palace at 11.30am
- They were followed by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall shortly afterwards at around lunchtime
- The Queen is not in London but rather in Sandringham, Norfolk, where she is due to remain until Tuesday
- She attended a service at St Mary Magdalene Church this morning where worshippers prayed for the little girl
- Kate and William are expected to decamp to the secluded estate later this week where they have a private home
The royal baby's proud grandparents flocked to Kensington Palace this morning to meet the little princess for the first time.
Kate's mother Carole Middleton was first first to arrive at around 11.30am with her sister Pippa, followed quickly by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Charles, who told earlier this week of his hopes for a little granddaughter, beamed with pride as he left the palace after spending around an hour-and-a-half getting to know the new addition to the family.
The Queen is staying privately in Sandringham where she will remain until Tuesday. She will likely meet the baby, her fifth great-grandchild, when the Cambridges decamp to Norfolk tomorrow.
The princess, whose name is still unknown, was born at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital yesterday weighing 8lbs and 3oz.
Kate's mother and sister were the first of the royal couple's relatives to visit the newborn baby who was brought home to Kensington Palace last night just ten hours after being born
Kate's father Michael Middleton arrived at Kensington Palace shortly before 2pm to meet his granddaughter for the first time
The newborn princess spent her first night at home in Kensington Palace after being presented for the first time on the steps of the Lindo Wing yesterday evening. Born at 8,34am on Saturday, the baby girl slept soundly as her proud parents showed her off
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were seen leaving St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham this morning. They are staying privately in Norfolk this weekend and will return to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday
The Queen will likely meet the new princess, her fifth great-grandchild, tomorrow when the Cambridges decamp to Norfolk where they have a private home on the Sandringham estate
William carries his baby daughter in her car seat to their family car before strapping her safely in the back to return to Kensington Palace
'Two out of two': Prince William jokes about getting the baby's car seat into the back of the car successfully to take his wife and daughter home
Earlier in the afternoon Prince George offered a shy wave as he arrived at the Lindo Wing with his father to meet his little sister for the first time
The blonde-haired toddler, who is 21 months old, was sporting a side parting. His ensemble - a blue jumper with a white collared shirt underneath - matched William's outfit, but George also wore blue shorts, blue pulled up socks and black shoes
George appeared to take the cheering crowd in his stride and peered curiously over his father's shoulder as they walked into the hospital
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A VERY ROYAL ARRIVAL: A TIMELINE
6am: The Duchess is admitted to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in the early stages of labour
6.34am: Kensington Palace inform the media Kate has been admitted to the hospital
8am: Palace sources say the Duchess's birth is 'progressing normally'
8.34am: The royal baby is born at a healthy weight of 8lbs and 3oz
11am: Kensington Palace announce the princess's birth
4pm: Prince William leaves the Lindo Wing to collect Prince George from Kensington Palace
4.15pm: Prince William returns to the hospital with his son so he can meet his new sister He was later taken home ahead of his parents and sister.
6.11pm: William and Kate emerge from the Lindo Wing with their daughter for the first time, to show her to the waiting cameras and fans, before heading back inside.
6.16pm: They emerge once more, this time with the princess in a car seat, and drive home to Kensington Palace.
6.31pm: Kensington Palace tweets the Royal family’s thanks to the staff of St Mary’s Hospital for the care and treatment they received and thank the public for their warm wishes
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Royal Princess Presented To World - Royal Baby: Duchess Of Cambridge Gives Birth To Daughter
London is Tickled PINK for the New Royal Arrival!