Prince George looked every bit the grown-up on Easter Sunday as he attended church in Windsor with the rest of his family. The third in line to the British throne has come a long way since he was born almost ten years ago, weighing a healthy 8lb 6oz. His birth was highly anticipated, given his future position as king.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, royal obstetrician Sir Marcus Setchell shared previously unknown details about George’s birth, including its length. Kate was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital in the early hours of 22 July 2013, giving birth around 12 hours later at 4:24 pm. However, the couple delayed the public announcement for almost four hours, releasing the official statement from Kensington Palace around 8 pm.
While Princess Kate appeared cool and collected on the steps outside the Lindo Wing, behind the scenes, she laboured for some time. Speaking to the newspaper, Sir Marcus revealed that he felt pressure about attending the birth. He tried to keep reminding himself that George was just another baby with parents who were likely to be experiencing all the same emotions, pains, and discomforts as all the people he looked after.
William had the honor of calling his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, on a specially encrypted phone to tell her the happy news. He then called Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, in Bucklebury, her sister Pippa and brother, James, his own father, then-Prince Charles, and his brother Prince Harry.
The couple waited one day before leaving the hospital with their newborn. Sir Marcus was able to sneak into the hospital unnoticed through the tradesman’s entrance, but his photo was taken when he left, alongside his colleagues Guy Thorpe-Beeston and Alan Farthing, who has since succeeded him as surgeon-gynaecologist to the royal family.
Despite the pressure of attending the birth of the future king, Sir Marcus Setchell was able to remain calm and focused. His dedication to his patients and his profession is a testament to his character and expertise. Prince George has grown up before our eyes, and it is fascinating to learn more about the details of his birth and the moments that followed.
