© Getty Images
0 / 40 Fotos
Home births - It is tradition for royal babies to be born at home. Queen Elizabeth II was born at her maternal grandfather's house in London.
© Public Domain
1 / 40 Fotos
Home births - HRM gave birth to Prince Charles, Edward, and Andrew at Buckingham Palace. Meanwhile, Princess Anne was born at Clarence House in London.
© Getty Images
2 / 40 Fotos
Diana broke that tradition - Princess Diana broke the tradition of royal home births. William and Harry were born at St Mary's Hospital, in London. This was the same for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
© Reuters
3 / 40 Fotos
Birthing witness
- Tradition demanded that a witness be present to the royal birth to confirm that a member of the royal family had been born. This custom ended before Prince Charles was born in 1948.
© Getty Images
4 / 40 Fotos
Dad couldn't be there - It was not permitted for the father to be present during a royal birth, but this tradition also ended before Prince Charles was born.
© Getty Images
5 / 40 Fotos
Royal education - Queen Elizabeth was tutored at home, but William and Kate have sent their children to school.
© Getty Images
6 / 40 Fotos
Royal education
- Prince George started school in September 2017. He was joined by his sister Charlotte in 2019.
© Getty Images
7 / 40 Fotos
Non-royal grandparents - In the past, royal children were prevented from having a close relationship with their non-royal grandparents. But this has changed in recent times.
© Getty Images
8 / 40 Fotos
Clothes for the first public appearance - The mother's clothes are chosen carefully for the first appearance after the birth. Kate wore a blue polka dot dress after the birth of Prince George in tribute to Princess Diana, who wore a similar dress after the birth of Prince William.
© Getty Images
9 / 40 Fotos
Midwives are usually present - At Princess Charlotte's birth there would have been three midwives present, who were sworn to secrecy.
© Getty Images
10 / 40 Fotos
The announcement of the birth is revealed on an easel in front of Buckingham palace - News of the birth is revealed on an easel in front of Buckingham Palace. Despite this tradition, Prince George's birth was actually announced on Twitter first, and later displayed on the easel.
© Getty Images
11 / 40 Fotos
The announcement used to be written by hand, now it is typed - Doctors at the hospital signed the document and it was transported by car to the palace.
© Getty Images
12 / 40 Fotos
Surge to see the announcement - A crowd amasses outside Buckingham Palace to see the document up close.
© Getty Images
13 / 40 Fotos
Gun salute - A gun salute at the Tower of London is set off when the baby is born. This is done as a sign of respect and also as a symbol of welcome.
© Getty Images
14 / 40 Fotos
New gun salute - Another gun salute is given at Green Park, next to Buckingham Palace.
© Getty Images
15 / 40 Fotos
Three or four names - Royal babies usually have three or four names. Prince George's full name is George Alexander Louis, Princess Charlotte's is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, and Prince Louis' is Louis Arthur Charles.
© Getty Images
16 / 40 Fotos
Royal babies don't need a surname
- Royal babies had no surname until the start of the 20th century. Their official last name was the name of the county they governed.
© Getty Images
17 / 40 Fotos
But if they do have one they will use this at school - Prince George is now George of Wales.
© Getty Images
18 / 40 Fotos
Royal babies also have an official title
- The correct way of referring to George, Charlotte, and Louis is Prince or Princess, followed by their name, and then of Wales.
© Getty Images
19 / 40 Fotos
Announcement of the birth - A court official makes the announcement of the birth.
© Getty Images
20 / 40 Fotos
The Queen or the King must be one of the first to know about the birth - Before the announcement was made official, the Queen was informed first of all of her grandchildren's births. Now, if a new baby comes, King Charles will be the first one to be informed.
© Getty Images
21 / 40 Fotos
It was only male heirs who were in line for the throne - Before, only male heirs could be in line for the throne. This was changed to include female heirs in 2011.
© Getty Images
22 / 40 Fotos
Official royal gynecologist - Sir Marcus Setchell (left) delayed his retirement in order to deliver Prince George. He was also the Queen's gynecologist.
© Getty Images
23 / 40 Fotos
Breastfeeding - Both the Queen and Princess Diana breastfed their children. Kate has allegedly done the same with hers, although there is no official confirmation.
© Getty Images
24 / 40 Fotos
But breastfeeding was not always viewed in the same way - According to The Telegraph, Queen Victoria thought that breastfeeding was repugnant and the cause of the ruin of young intellectuals.
© Reuters
25 / 40 Fotos
Baby names don't have to be revealed immediately - Prince Charles and Princess Diana announced Harry's name on the day they left the hospital with him. In the case of Prince William, his name was announced days after his birth.
© Getty Images
26 / 40 Fotos
Paternity leave - Prince William had rights to unpaid paternity leave from the Royal Air Force, after the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. However, when Prince Louis was born he returned to work just two days later.
© Getty Images
27 / 40 Fotos
Royal children have pets - It's normal for children of the royal family to have pets. Prince William had a pony when he was a child.
© Getty Images
28 / 40 Fotos
Presents from around the world - It is also normal for world leaders to send gifts to the newborn. When Prince George was born in 2013, he received about 610 non-official gifts, which were displayed in an exhibition in Buckingham Palace.
© Reuters
29 / 40 Fotos
Cloth diapers - Royal babies tended to use diapers made from cloth, but Prince William was the first to break this tradition, when Princess Diana decided to use disposable ones.
© Reuters
30 / 40 Fotos
Trooping the Colour - Royal children must attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony. The family gathers on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the Royal Air Force fly overhead.
© Getty Images
31 / 40 Fotos
Royal births are announced after 12 weeks of pregnancy - Royal births are announced after 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, Kate Middleton was an exception to this rule. When she was absent from an official event, the rumors began immediately.
© Getty Images
32 / 40 Fotos
The baby's sex is only revealed after birth - There are rumors that William and Kate only discovered the gender of their first child after he was born.
© Getty Images
33 / 40 Fotos
Nannies always help look after royal babies - Royal nannies learn a bit of everything, from defensive driving, through to safety protocols and even Taekwondo.
© Getty Images
34 / 40 Fotos
Baptism
- Royal babies are baptized some weeks after their birth. This is generally when they will make their first public appearance.
© Getty Images
35 / 40 Fotos
Christenings are carried out by the head of the Church of England - In the past few years, Archbishop Justin Welby has been responsible for the baptisms.
© Getty Images
36 / 40 Fotos
The press are not permitted at christenings - However, in the case of Princess Charlotte, the royal family allowed the public to take selfies.
© Getty Images
37 / 40 Fotos
Royal babies usually have six godparents - Prince George has seven godparents, while Princess Charlotte has five. Meanwhile, Prince Louis has six godparents.
© Reuters
38 / 40 Fotos
Close family members cannot be godparents
- This obviously includes immediate family, meaning that Harry is not and will not be godfather to any of William and Kate's children. While you're here, why not meet the single royals looking for love?
© Getty Images
39 / 40 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 40 Fotos
Home births - It is tradition for royal babies to be born at home. Queen Elizabeth II was born at her maternal grandfather's house in London.
© Public Domain
1 / 40 Fotos
Home births - HRM gave birth to Prince Charles, Edward, and Andrew at Buckingham Palace. Meanwhile, Princess Anne was born at Clarence House in London.
© Getty Images
2 / 40 Fotos
Diana broke that tradition - Princess Diana broke the tradition of royal home births. William and Harry were born at St Mary's Hospital, in London. This was the same for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
© Reuters
3 / 40 Fotos
Birthing witness
- Tradition demanded that a witness be present to the royal birth to confirm that a member of the royal family had been born. This custom ended before Prince Charles was born in 1948.
© Getty Images
4 / 40 Fotos
Dad couldn't be there - It was not permitted for the father to be present during a royal birth, but this tradition also ended before Prince Charles was born.
© Getty Images
5 / 40 Fotos
Royal education - Queen Elizabeth was tutored at home, but William and Kate have sent their children to school.
© Getty Images
6 / 40 Fotos
Royal education
- Prince George started school in September 2017. He was joined by his sister Charlotte in 2019.
© Getty Images
7 / 40 Fotos
Non-royal grandparents - In the past, royal children were prevented from having a close relationship with their non-royal grandparents. But this has changed in recent times.
© Getty Images
8 / 40 Fotos
Clothes for the first public appearance - The mother's clothes are chosen carefully for the first appearance after the birth. Kate wore a blue polka dot dress after the birth of Prince George in tribute to Princess Diana, who wore a similar dress after the birth of Prince William.
© Getty Images
9 / 40 Fotos
Midwives are usually present - At Princess Charlotte's birth there would have been three midwives present, who were sworn to secrecy.
© Getty Images
10 / 40 Fotos
The announcement of the birth is revealed on an easel in front of Buckingham palace - News of the birth is revealed on an easel in front of Buckingham Palace. Despite this tradition, Prince George's birth was actually announced on Twitter first, and later displayed on the easel.
© Getty Images
11 / 40 Fotos
The announcement used to be written by hand, now it is typed - Doctors at the hospital signed the document and it was transported by car to the palace.
© Getty Images
12 / 40 Fotos
Surge to see the announcement - A crowd amasses outside Buckingham Palace to see the document up close.
© Getty Images
13 / 40 Fotos
Gun salute - A gun salute at the Tower of London is set off when the baby is born. This is done as a sign of respect and also as a symbol of welcome.
© Getty Images
14 / 40 Fotos
New gun salute - Another gun salute is given at Green Park, next to Buckingham Palace.
© Getty Images
15 / 40 Fotos
Three or four names - Royal babies usually have three or four names. Prince George's full name is George Alexander Louis, Princess Charlotte's is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, and Prince Louis' is Louis Arthur Charles.
© Getty Images
16 / 40 Fotos
Royal babies don't need a surname
- Royal babies had no surname until the start of the 20th century. Their official last name was the name of the county they governed.
© Getty Images
17 / 40 Fotos
But if they do have one they will use this at school - Prince George is now George of Wales.
© Getty Images
18 / 40 Fotos
Royal babies also have an official title
- The correct way of referring to George, Charlotte, and Louis is Prince or Princess, followed by their name, and then of Wales.
© Getty Images
19 / 40 Fotos
Announcement of the birth - A court official makes the announcement of the birth.
© Getty Images
20 / 40 Fotos
The Queen or the King must be one of the first to know about the birth - Before the announcement was made official, the Queen was informed first of all of her grandchildren's births. Now, if a new baby comes, King Charles will be the first one to be informed.
© Getty Images
21 / 40 Fotos
It was only male heirs who were in line for the throne - Before, only male heirs could be in line for the throne. This was changed to include female heirs in 2011.
© Getty Images
22 / 40 Fotos
Official royal gynecologist - Sir Marcus Setchell (left) delayed his retirement in order to deliver Prince George. He was also the Queen's gynecologist.
© Getty Images
23 / 40 Fotos
Breastfeeding - Both the Queen and Princess Diana breastfed their children. Kate has allegedly done the same with hers, although there is no official confirmation.
© Getty Images
24 / 40 Fotos
But breastfeeding was not always viewed in the same way - According to The Telegraph, Queen Victoria thought that breastfeeding was repugnant and the cause of the ruin of young intellectuals.
© Reuters
25 / 40 Fotos
Baby names don't have to be revealed immediately - Prince Charles and Princess Diana announced Harry's name on the day they left the hospital with him. In the case of Prince William, his name was announced days after his birth.
© Getty Images
26 / 40 Fotos
Paternity leave - Prince William had rights to unpaid paternity leave from the Royal Air Force, after the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. However, when Prince Louis was born he returned to work just two days later.
© Getty Images
27 / 40 Fotos
Royal children have pets - It's normal for children of the royal family to have pets. Prince William had a pony when he was a child.
© Getty Images
28 / 40 Fotos
Presents from around the world - It is also normal for world leaders to send gifts to the newborn. When Prince George was born in 2013, he received about 610 non-official gifts, which were displayed in an exhibition in Buckingham Palace.
© Reuters
29 / 40 Fotos
Cloth diapers - Royal babies tended to use diapers made from cloth, but Prince William was the first to break this tradition, when Princess Diana decided to use disposable ones.
© Reuters
30 / 40 Fotos
Trooping the Colour - Royal children must attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony. The family gathers on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the Royal Air Force fly overhead.
© Getty Images
31 / 40 Fotos
Royal births are announced after 12 weeks of pregnancy - Royal births are announced after 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, Kate Middleton was an exception to this rule. When she was absent from an official event, the rumors began immediately.
© Getty Images
32 / 40 Fotos
The baby's sex is only revealed after birth - There are rumors that William and Kate only discovered the gender of their first child after he was born.
© Getty Images
33 / 40 Fotos
Nannies always help look after royal babies - Royal nannies learn a bit of everything, from defensive driving, through to safety protocols and even Taekwondo.
© Getty Images
34 / 40 Fotos
Baptism
- Royal babies are baptized some weeks after their birth. This is generally when they will make their first public appearance.
© Getty Images
35 / 40 Fotos
Christenings are carried out by the head of the Church of England - In the past few years, Archbishop Justin Welby has been responsible for the baptisms.
© Getty Images
36 / 40 Fotos
The press are not permitted at christenings - However, in the case of Princess Charlotte, the royal family allowed the public to take selfies.
© Getty Images
37 / 40 Fotos
Royal babies usually have six godparents - Prince George has seven godparents, while Princess Charlotte has five. Meanwhile, Prince Louis has six godparents.
© Reuters
38 / 40 Fotos
Close family members cannot be godparents
- This obviously includes immediate family, meaning that Harry is not and will not be godfather to any of William and Kate's children. While you're here, why not meet the single royals looking for love?
© Getty Images
39 / 40 Fotos
Royal babies: the bizarre traditions behind palace doors
The announcement of the birth is revealed on an easel in front of Buckingham palace
© <p>Getty Images</p>
There is nothing quite like a royal baby to grab worldwide attention. There is a global fascination with the British royal family, and when a new baby comes along it's huge news. However, what many people are unaware of are some of the traditional rules that come with having a royal baby.
One such rule is that they are baptized by the head of the Church of England (which is formally headed by the King) some weeks after their birth, which is also when they make their first public appearance.
From firing cannonballs to being blessed with a group of godparents, there are many strange traditions that signal a member of the family. Take a look through this gallery to find out exactly what happens with the arrival of a royal baby.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week
-
1
CELEBRITY Relationships
-
2
LIFESTYLE Throwback
-
3
LIFESTYLE Catholicism
-
4
LIFESTYLE Home remedies
-
5
LIFESTYLE Putin
-
6
FOOD Fine dining
-
7
LIFESTYLE Emotions
-
8
TRAVEL Nations
-
9
LIFESTYLE History
-
10
LIFESTYLE Emergency
