British Royal Babies Through the Ages

| By Rebekka Väisänen, Gale Ambassador at the University of Helsinki |

All media outlets are now brimming with news about the newest addition to the British Royal Family, HRH Prince Harry and Meghan’s baby boy. In light of this, I decided to search Gale Primary Sources to see how royal births have been documented and celebrated throughout the ages. Below I explore the media hype around five royal ancestors, ranging from poetry to the decoding of names. 

Charlotte, Princess Royal, 29th September 1766

One of the oldest results from my search was “An Ode” dedicated to “Her Royal Highness, Charlotte, Augusta, Matilda, Princess Royal of England.” This ten-page poem was distributed for one shilling a copy on the streets of London, in honour of the princess’ 12th birthday on 29th September 1778. Now, it is accessible in Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Princess Charlotte later became the Queen of Württemberg, through her marriage to Frederick I of Württemberg. She was also godmother to her niece, Princess Victoria.

British Royal Babies - Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; Charlotte Augusta Matilda, Princess Royal, by and published by William Wynne Ryland, after Francis Cotes, line engraving, published 1770, NPG D33076
Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz; Charlotte Augusta Matilda, Princess Royal, by and published by William Wynne Ryland, after Francis Cotes, line engraving, published 1770, NPG D33076
© National Portrait Gallery, London, Creative Commons

Queen Victoria, 24th May 1819

Princess Victoria’s birth was noted in the “Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries” section in the Leeds Intelligencer on 31st May 1819, available through Gale’s British Library Newspapers archive. The statement reads that “The Royal Family of Great Britain has received another addition, by the safe delivery of her royal highness, the Duchess of Kent, of a Daughter. This happy event took place at Kensington Palace, on Monday morning, at a quarter past four o’clock. Her royal highness and the infant, are, both doing well.”

Portrait of Queen Victoria after She Had Been Crowned
“Portrait of Queen Victoria after She Had Been Crowned in St. Edward’s Chair.” Hereford Times, 30 June 1838, p. 2. British Library Newspapers, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/IS3244957701/GDCS?u=webdemo&sid=GDCS&xid=4d95ddea
British Royal Babies - the birth of Queen Victoria announced in the Leeds Intelligencer
“Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries.” Leeds Intelligencer, 31 May 1819, p. 3. British Library Newspapers, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EN3216000268/GDCS?u=webdemo&sid=GDCS&xid=e4a0a2e9

Royal baby Victoria, like her godmother, was also honoured with poetry on her birthday. “To the Infant Princess” was submitted to the Morning Post following news of her birth. This sonnet with a Shakespearean tone connects the joy of the spring season, when all things are coming back to life, with the joy over the new life in the Royal Family.

British Royal Babies - a poem about the birth of Queen Victoria published in the Morning Post
M. “TO THE INFANT PRINCESS.” Morning Post, 27 May 1819. British Library Newspapers, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/R3209718143/GDCS?u=webdemo&sid=GDCS&xid=f52bb7a0

Right above this sonnet in the paper are two bulletins with updates about the health of her mother, the Duchess of Kent, who had had a “slight attack of fever” the night before, following the delivery. She was reported to be “advancing satisfactorily” in her recovery, while the Royal Infant was stated to be doing well.

George VI, 14th December 1895

Upon the birth of Prince Harry’s great-grandfather George VI, people from all over the kingdom sent congratulations to the Royal Family. The formal congratulatory correspondence between the National Conservative League from Worcester and F. De Winton, (on behalf of the Royal parents, the Duke and Duchess of York) was published in the local newspaper, the Berrows Worcester Journal, on 28th December 1895. Here’s a fun fact for you: George VI was originally named after his great-grandfather Prince Albert, as he was born on the anniversary of his death, (a gesture much appreciated by Queen Victoria). However, when he became king, he took on the regnal name George VI.

British Royal Babies - congratulatory correspondence between the National Conservative League from Worcester and F. De Winton, (on behalf of the Royal parents, the Duke and Duchess of York)
“THE RECENT ROYAL BIRTH.” Berrows Worcester Journal, 28 Dec. 1895, p. 3. British Library Newspapers, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/R3210969000/GDCS?u=webdemo&sid=GDCS&xid=ee85fd95
British Royal Babies - photo of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's son, pictured in the Aberdeen Journal 1915
“Prince Albert.” Aberdeen Journal, 19 Nov. 1915, p. 3. British Library Newspapers, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/JA3230059593/GDCS?u=webdemo&sid=GDCS&xid=a9eabd6c

Queen Elizabeth II, 21st April 1926

Queen Elizabeth was born at the home of her paternal grandparents on the 21st of April 1926. Details surrounding the registration of her birth can be found in the Western Daily Press. The article explains the origin of her Christian names: “Elizabeth (after the Duchess), Alexandra (after the great-grandmother) and Mary (after the Queen and Princess Mary) the initials being the same as those of [her mother] ‘E.A.M.’”

British Royal Babies - Princess Elizabeth pictured in the Evening Telegraph 1931
“Princess Elizabeth.” Evening Telegraph, 21 Apr. 1931, p. 1. British Library Newspapers, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/JE3237409209/GDCS?u=uhelsink&sid=GDCS&xid=9d1c1029 

Prince Charles, 14th November 1948

The Evening Telegraph ran a full cover story on the birth of Prince Charles on the 15th of November 1948, the day after his birth, stating that the “Condition of Both [was] Satisfactory”. The reports around Charles’ birth give insight into the celebrations both right outside of the palace (where cheering crowds were asked to let Princess Elizabeth rest), as well as outskirt towns (where bells rang for up to three hours and people out to “wet the baby’s head” had bars running out of beer before midday.) Like his mother, the registration of his birth was noted in the papers.

Royal Babies through the ages - full cover story on the birth of Prince Charles in the Evening Telegraph
“Royal Birth Congratulations.” Evening Telegraph, 15 Nov. 1948, p. 2. British Library Newspapershttp://link.galegroup.com./apps/doc/ID3240356289/GDCS?u=uhelsink&sid=GDCS&xid=967f47ab
British Royal Babies - Prince Charles pictured with his mother in the Times, 1948
“Prince Charles With His Mother.” Times, 29 Dec. 1948, p. 10. The Times Digital Archivehttp://link.galegroup.com./apps/doc/CS167987101/GDCS?u=uhelsink&sid=GDCS&xid=1add2cb6
British Royal Babies - Prince Charles pictured in the Dundee Courier 1949
“Prince Charles.” Dundee Courier, 7 Apr. 1949, p. 3. British Library Newspapershttp://link.galegroup.com./apps/doc/JF3229437911/GDCS?u=uhelsink&sid=GDCS&xid=4cce1b7d 

Baby Sussex, 6th May 2019

In today’s social media-saturated age, it seems incredible that we have to wait even a few days to see a picture of the newest royal. Eschewing royal tradition, Harry and Meghan decided to skip the publicity of the royal arrival at the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital, giving birth in a private location (later named as London’s Portland Hospital) instead. But before you get too upset about this, just remember that in earlier times the public had to wait for months to see a picture (or painting) of a new-born royal, with the public outside of London often relying on hearsay for years!

About the Author

Hi, I’m Rebekka! I am one of the Gale Student Ambassadors here at the University of Helsinki in Finland, where I am nearing the end of my Master’s studies in English philology. Currently doing teacher training at a field school, I have been experiencing curious withdrawal symptoms from spending full days at the library researching and working on essays, so when I have a free moment, I easily find a reason to find my way back there – for example, by researching within the Gale Archives! Nerdy, I know… Otherwise, my interests include exploring the outdoors, as well as spectating and participating in theatre (on which there is also a plethora of information in the archives…!)