Good Heavens, The Duchess Of Cambridge Has Gone Into...

[dales]

It is one of the great American paradoxes that a country which got rid of the monarchy in 1776 continues to lavish so much attention on the Royal Family.

I've NEVER understood this psychiatric disorder.

[Gob]

Amid stiff competition, Ms Arbiter may have taken the cake for the most ghastly contribution of the morning: “My first thought I have to say was - this is how brilliant a royal Kate is. There are women throughout British royal family history that have panicked over not being able to deliver a boy and here we are, Kate did it first time.”
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv- ... z2ZqiQlkzq

[oldr_n_wsr]

just because the media is force feeding us the royal BS 24/7 doesn't mean we are paying attention. While I hope hte kid is healthy and has a great and purposeful life, his birth does not affect me at all.
I only know about it because one cannot avoid hearing about it. Imus in the morning had some Brit on saying how this child will usher the UK into the 22nd century. Not for nothing but the kid probably won't live that long.

[dales]

Unless the kid was born with 2 heads, WGAS?

(And I'm English on my father's side.)

[Crackpot]

So the horns ant tail don't count

[dales]

[rubato]

It is one of the great American paradoxes that a country which got rid of the monarchy in 1776 continues to lavish so much attention on the Royal Family.

I've NEVER understood this psychiatric disorder.

Schadenfreude


yrs,
rubato

[Daisy]

Dumb Yanks

Some US television networks proclaimed the royal baby news by welcoming the arrival of the "future king of England", forgetting about the rest of the UK.

Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish... you may want to look away now. Some of the biggest names in American broadcasting have overlooked your existence amid the hysteria surrounding the newborn Windsor. Star presenters on CBS News and ABC News were among the culprits who referred to the baby as "the future king of England". American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted: "It's a boy! So happy for my cousin Kate and the future King of England".

But there hasn't been a King of England since William III in the early 18th Century - and there won't be again, unless (or until) the United Kingdom splinters completely.

"The structure of the English monarchy changed... when Wales was incorporated by the Act of Union of 1536. It changed once more in 1707 when Scotland was brought in to constitute the Kingdom of Great Britain.

"The Act of Union with Ireland in 1801 necessitated another change of name to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, which lasted until Southern Ireland was declared a Free State in 1921."


It's a common misunderstanding in the US. The New York Times angered many Scots when it marked Andy Murray's Wimbledon triumph with a tweet that said: "After 77 years, Murray and England rule"

But before Brits get too sniffy about this equation between Britain and England, we should acknowledge it's a pretty complicated business and the English are sometimes guilty of the same mistake. A common error is for the British themselves to forget about Northern Ireland by referring to "Great Britain", which is an island, when really they mean the United Kingdom. (The Northern Irish are "British" without being part of Great Britain.)

And remember that the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are British, but not part of the UK.

[Scooter]

He will, of course, not just be the King of the United Kingdom, but of 15 other Commonwealth realms as well. That also seems to be another "common misunderstanding".

[oldr_n_wsr]

Most of my fellow Americans when asked the difference between England and the UK would reply that they are one and the same.
My appologies to you UKers.

[Gob]

That's alright O-n-W, we're very used to our American cousins being "geographically challenged."

[dales]

Americans on the whole are very Ameri-centric. They have taken geography out of the schools in favor of victim studies.

Anyone else here been to Reykjavik or Lichtenstein?

[Gob]

Been to Lichtenstein, never been to Reykjavik but would love to. Definitely on my bucket list.

[Crackpot]

You been to Lima?

[dales]

Ohio?

[Andrew D]

The "significance" of this is celebrity hype. It is no more important than was the birth of any of Michael Jackson's children.

Unless the Brits finally come to their senses, this kid may someday become the anachronistic figurehead of a monarchy whose saving grace, such as it is, is that the monarch does not actually rule.

Yawn.

[Gob]

Significant enough to make the news around the globe Andrew, just as significant as if Michele Obama popped one out.

[Gob]

A PAIR of greyhounds, a salmon spear, and wood for his fire – these are just some of the gifts the new royal baby can expect when he becomes Duke of Cornwall.

The son of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge will also be handed 100 silver shillings from the town of Launceston, the ancient capital of the county.

​Centuries-old tradition dictates that the eldest son of a monarch is made Duke of Cornwall and can receive his ‘feudal dues’, which includes a pair of white gloves, gilt spurs, a pound of pepper and cumin, and a hunting bow, on top of the other goodies.

Town mayor Dave Gordon said: “I have no idea what he did with his greyhounds but receiving the feudal dues at Launceston is an honour. It’s all very historic and goes back to the early 1200s. I’m sure all the items he receives will come in very useful!”

It could be many years until the as-yet unnamed baby receives the title, as his father, William, is next in line.

But this has not stopped the people of Launceston celebrating, with bells peeling at St Mary Magdalene Church all day today and the Union Flag flying high at the town hall.

Mr Gordon said: “We as a town will send a letter of congratulations to the happy couple via the town council. It makes us all very proud. We are a royal town, and have been for centuries, and we look forward to welcoming him to Cornwall, and of course to Launceston.”

He said there was even a possibility the Queen could grant the baby the title of Viscount of Launceston.

Kate Middleton gave birth to her son at 4.24pm yesterday, to the delight of well-wishers around the world.

Bells have been ringing in churches across Cornwall all day to mark the occasion, organised by the Truro Diocesan Guild of Ringers.

The guild’s president, Philip Tremain, said: “We all love bell ringing but it’s an absolute privilege to be doing it on a special occasion such as this.”

[Andrew D]

Significant enough to make the news around the globe ....

As did Michael Jackson's ....

... just as significant as if Michele Obama popped one out.

Except that her child would not be an heir apparent, or even an heir apparent twice removed, to the presidency.

[Gob]

And?