A third son for Elizabeth II

March 10, 1964

Queen Elizabeth II gave birth tonight to a son, reports the New York Times. 

A bulletin signed by five physicians stated the Queen was "safely delivered" of a son at 8:20 this evening."  Mother and baby are both doing well.

This is the third son and fourth child of Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip.  The new prince, whose name won't be made public for another few weeks, is third in line to the throne, after his two older brothers, Prince Charles, 15, and four-year-old Prince Andrew.   Thirteen-year-old Princess Anne now moves into fourth place.

Queen Elizabeth II is 37 years old and has been the sovereign since 1952.

This is the second child born to a reigning sovereign since 1857.  Prince Andrew was the first.  

The baby was born at Buckingham Palace.  Prince Philip gave the news to the palace's staff and then telephoned Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and Prince Charles and Princess Anne, both of whom are at boarding school.  The Prince of Wales attends Gordonstoun in Scotland and Princess Anne is a pupil at Benenden.

This is the second birth in the royal family this year.  On February 29, Princess Alexandra, the Queen's first cousin, gave birth to a son.  

Princess Margaret, the Queen's younger sister, and the Duchess of Kent are both expecting babies in April and May, respectively.

The baby was placed "in the cream-colored cradle," which was made for his mother.  Later, he will be "transferred to the Moses Basket," which belonged to Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth's grandmother.