Sunday, September 15, 2024

A Second Son for The Princess of Wales



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 September 14, 1984

Today, the Princess of Wales was "safely delivered" at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington.  The birth took place in the private Lindo Wing.   The Princess was in labor for nine hours and gave birth at 4:30 p.m.

The infant prince weighed 6lbs 14 oz.  The Prince of Wales was present for the birth.

The baby's name - Henry Charles Albert David - was announced the next day by Buckingham Palace.  The official release also noted he would be known as Harry.

The Prince of Wales spent three hours with his wife and infant son before returning to Kensington Palace.  When Charles exited the hospital, he told the press: "The baby is fine!  My wife is even better."  
He also told the crowd the delivery had been "much quicker than last time."

Prince William, now the big brother, was born on June 21, 1982.    

The Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince Harry left St. Mary's at 2:30 p.m., 22 hours after the Princess had given birth.   Earlier in the day, the Prince of Wales brought Prince William to meet his new brother.

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 Prince Harry's baptism in the Church of England took place on December 21, 1984.  He was dressed in the family's lace christening gown first worn in 1840 by Queen Victoria's eldest child, Princess Victoria.
His godparents were HRH Prince Andrew, Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones, Celia Vestsey, Gerald Ward, Carolyn Bartholomew, and artist Bryan Organ. 

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 Harry's engagement to American actress Rachel Meghan Markle was announced on November 27, 2017.

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 They married in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.   The morning of Harry's wedding,  Queen Elizabeth created her grandson Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel.

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On January 13, 2020, Buckingham Palace released a statement about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

“Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family. My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.

“Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK. These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.”

Their last day as working royals was on March 31, 2020.  

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live in Montecito, California, with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.  

Prince Harry celebrates his 40th birthday today.   He told the BBC:  "I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40. Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world".












 

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