Royal Baby

It's a boy for Prince William and Kate as social media spreads the news in an instant

Within what seemed like moments after it happened, social media tom toms were beating around the world with news that the Duchess of Cambridge had given birth to a son, the speedy news thanks in no small part to Twitter and to the media frenzy that has surrounded St. Mary's Hospital in London since it was announced that Kate Middleton had gone into labor.

So much for the snail's pace-planned birth announcement following the staid tradition of the official proclamation being mounted at Buckingham Palace on a gold-trimmed wooden easel. The first announcement came via official press release to media outlets that was then posted on the Clarence House Twitter account. Clarence House is official residence of the proud parents.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) July 22, 2013

The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) July 22, 2013

The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) July 22, 2013

The gilded easel went up as planned but not before the world had already been informed of the birth. But there is no name on the easel. The third in line for the British throne, after grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince William, doesn't have a name as yet, his parents saying they might ponder that a little longer.

USWeekly reports that it took Princess Diana and Prince Charles a full seven days to name William and a full month for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to name Charles.

Such has the Twitter world been focusing on the royal birth that Voice of America reports that within minutes of news breaking that Kate Middleton was going into labor, 200 tweets a minute were being posted with the words "Kate" and "labor."

The official announcement was topped by Twitter feeds.

royal baby birth announcement set out in public

The British Monarchy Instagram

The official announcement was topped by Twitter feeds.

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Remembering Sylvester Turner

Former Houston mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner has died at 70

Photo courtesy of Mayor's Office, City of Houston

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Sylvester Turner, the former mayor of Houston who won election last November to fill late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's seat in District 18, has died, ABC13 learned Wednesday morning. He was 70.

This morning, @houmayor John Whitmire announced the death of former mayor, Congressman SylvesterTurner.
“A remarkable public servant who impacted millions of people. He rose from poverty but never forgot where he came from. It is a terrible loss for the city and a personal loss… pic.twitter.com/YtVMp3tzim
— City of Houston (@HoustonTX) March 5, 2025

Turner served two terms as mayor of the City of Houston after being elected in 2016.

His tenure ended last January. Ten months later, he ran to fill the seat once held by longtime Congresswoman Jackson Lee, who died of pancreatic cancer in July 2024.

"A remarkable public servant who impacted millions of people. He rose from poverty, but never forgot where he came from. It is a terrible loss for the city and a personal loss for me. I ask Houstonians to celebrate his life," Houston Mayor John Whitmire, who recently attended church with Turner, said.

Whitmire opened Wednesday's council meeting, which paused for an hour of reflection, with remarks about Turner's death. Flags at City Hall have been lowered to half-staff.

"It is with inexpressible sadness that we, the family of Congressman Sylvester Turner, representative for the 18th congressional district of Texas, acknowledge his unexpected passing," his family said in a statement.

According to his family, Turner was taken to the hospital Tuesday night and later released while in Washington, D.C. At 5:45 am Wednesday, he died at home from enduring health complications, the statement read.

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Read the full story, with video, on CultureMap's news partner, ABC13.com.

obituary sylvester turner