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, 2013The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) July 22, 2013The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) July 22, 2013The 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."
Prince William and Kate Middleton at their wedding in 2011.
