People gather to take a look of a notice proclaiming the birth of a baby boy toPrince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge on display for public view at Buckingham Palace in London, Monday, July 22, 2013. AP
LONDON—Top-selling British newspaper The Sun on Tuesday changed its name to “The Son” to honor the arrival of a baby boy for Prince William and his wife Kate.
The rest of Fleet Street marked the occasion with souvenir editions, with The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Star and The Daily Express all splashing the headline “It’s a Boy” across front-page photographs of the new mother.
The Sun, which carried a headline declaring that “the regal has landed” explained its name-change.
“We’ve never changed The Sun’s name before and we’ll never do it again,” it said.
“But not many kings are born in anyone’s lifetime. It seems a fitting way to mark such a momentous event.
“So congratulations, William and Kate, from your No1 Sun – on your No1 son.”
It added that Britain had “grown to love” William and Kate.
“Yesterday they secured the future of the British monarchy for another generation,” it said. “We wish them every joy.”
The Telegraph mirrored The Sun’s comments, saying the birth coincides with “the rebirth of the House of Windsor”.
The pro-monarchy Daily Mail carried a picture of Prince Charles under the headline “Oh boy! One’s a grandpa.”
“It would be foolish indeed to try to predict what upheavals may occur in the six or seven decades the baby Prince may have to wait to ascend the throne,” it said inside.
“Nor is this the moment to reflect on the EU’s greed for power, which is leaving the Sovereign with less and less sovereignty.
“No, now is the time simply to congratulate William and Kate on the birth of a very middle-class prince and to wish him good health and a long life.”
The Times said that Britain and the Commonwealth “will delight with the pride and joy” at the birth, and was one of many papers offering words of advice for the future heir.
“Our monarchy is what we have in common and what distinguishes us from other lands less fortunate in their traditions and less comfortable with their history. That is why this is a national event,” the daily said in its editorial.
“Our affection for the monarchy is not unconditional, but if repaid with pride, duty and the right hint of humour, it is almost unbounded.
“The infant prince will have much to learn from his great grandmother [the queen], but nothing more important than how to make this implicit contract endure.”
But the center-left Guardian offered a warning to the new arrival.
“Congratulations and all good wishes. A new baby is a very splendid thing,” said its editorial.
“But, of course, there is a not so good fairy by the cradle too.
“Baby Cambridge is unlikely to inherit for at least 50 years. However exemplary the reigns of his father and grandfather, however impeccable his own future behavior, will Britain in 2065 still be a state that has at its apex one individual whose place is decided by birth?”