It's a boy for the Duke and Duchess of Kent

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October 9, 1935

"This morning at five minutes after 2 o'clock  Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent was safely delivered of a Prince at 3 Belgrave Square.  His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent and Her Royal and Imperial Highness Princess Nicholas of Greece were present.  Secretary Sir John Simon was also present.  The condition of Her Royal Highness and the Infant Prince is satisfactory.  The happy event was made known by the firing of the Park and Tower guns."

The official announcement of the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Kent's first child was announced in a special supplement of the London Gazette.

The first official announcement was made at 3:40 a.m.  A second bulletin was issued at 1:30 p.m.  "The condition of Her Royal Highness and the infant Prince continues to be satisfactory."

According to the New York Times, the news was "transmitted by telephone" to King George and Queen Mary, who are at Sandringham, and to the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Gloucester, and the Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood.

This is King George's fifth grandchild and third grandson.  The King and Queen received the news  with "great pleasure."

The infant prince is seventh in line to the throne.   He weighed 6 & 1/2 lbs.  The Duchess of Kent's father, Prince Nicholas of Greece, and her sister, Princess Elisabeth, Countess zu Toerring-Jettenbach, were also at Belgrave Square when the Duchess gave birth.

The name was not announced, but George and Edward are expected to be two of the four names that the Prince will receive. The Duke and Duchess of Kent will choose the names, but they "must be submitted to King George for approval."

The Prince of Wales visited his new nephew earlier this evening  He was taken to see the Duchess of Kent and her baby, and later "chatted in the rain, outside the house," with the Duke of Kent.

The Duchess is "recuperating rapidly," and is expected to attend the christening, which will probably take place next month.


Great Britain "rejoiced" over the birth.  Outside the home of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, "little knots of women and girls gathered."