With the headlines now reading that the Duchess of Cambridge is in labor,
I admit I get all tingly about happy beginnings
It's not uncommon to hear an English person say
'Now, I'm not a Royalist but...'
followed by something very complimentary about the royal family
I think the country is happy to have something to look forward to again
after two extraordinary years of once-in-a-lifetime events
- the Royal Wedding, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Summer Olympics -
Although the royal family doesn't rule the country (Parliament does),
the royal baby provides a peek into the future of the country's leadership
The Royal Family provides a stability through the decades,
as Prime Ministers change frequently
There is a fondness toward the Royal Family here
When you watch another family grow up during your lifetime,
you feel like you know them
For now, Queen Elizabeth II is THE face of the country
What little person being born will be the future face?
{ Decided in a recent ruling,
this baby will be in line for the throne regardless of gender }
One tradition that won't continue is
the Home Secretary's attendance of the royal birth
to insure a different baby isn't smuggled in or switched out
Although the witnessing was practiced for centuries,
no one would have attended the birth of Queen Elizabeth II
as she was not born heir to the throne
{ Her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936
which made Elizabeth's father the King when she was ten years old }
What name do you think they'll choose?
If it is a girl, my vote is for Charlotte
who was much loved by the British
as Princess Diana was
Regardless of birth name,
the monarch can change his/her name upon coronation
King George VI was born as Albert,
and there is speculation that Prince Charles
will become King George VII upon coronation
{ because the two King Charles's did not have the happiest of fates }
And so the headlines have been pretty quiet right now,
except for reports about the hot weather
{ English homes are without air conditioning
and designed to keep the heat in,
so it has been quite uncomfortable }
Meanwhile, the world's media descends upon the city once more
and stares at a hospital front door
and an easel at Buckingham Palace
Best of luck to the parents-to-be!
:)
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