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Prince's birth adds to Mary's fairytale
Crown Princess Mary has added a "happily ever after" to her fairytale life with the birth of a son and future king of Denmark. The Tasmanian-born princess gave birth to her first child at 1.57am (0957 AEST) Saturday at Copenhagen University Hospital, two weeks before her due date. The Danish Palace said in a statement that both mother and baby were fine. The baby weighs 3.5 kg (seven pounds, seven ounces) and is 51 cm (20 inches) long.
The news sparked celebrations in Denmark and Australia, particularly in Mary's former homeland of Tasmania. Residents of Taroona, the town where the 33-year-old princess spent her school years, were stunned to hear the good news at their local primary school's biennial Seaside Festival. Organisers had been running a competition to guess the sex and weight of the royal baby but were forced to shut the books when the announcement was made. "I'm not sure whether she waited for us or we waited for her," Taroona Primary School Association president Tim O'Sullivan said. "We're going to send her ... a couple of bottles of Seaside Festival wine so she can celebrate the birth of her child."
"It's wonderful news. We'll be sending our congratulations," she said. Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon also sent his best wishes, saying the state would arrange a community celebration and gift on behalf of its people. "Tasmanians are deeply proud of our very own crown princess and we all send our very warmest wishes on this great occasion," he said. Prime Minister John Howard congratulated the royal couple on their baby's safe delivery. "It's every parent's greatest wish and I'm very happy for them," he said. Mary was admitted to hospital about 10pm on Friday night local time (0600 AEST today) and was said to have had a team of 10 doctors, nurses and midwives assisting with the delivery. A 21-gun salute will mark the birth in Denmark at noon (2000 AEST). Soldiers have been stationed at Battery Sixtus and Kronborg Castle for weeks to enable the salute, fired by 21 cannons, to be timed perfectly. Mary announced her first pregnancy in April, but was already carrying the baby during the couple's first Australian tour in March when Frederik jokingly told reporters he hoped there would be "knguru i pungen" or "kangaroos in the pouch" by the 2008 Olympics. The royal couple, who met in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics and married in May last year, have stressed they want their children's upbringing to be as normal as possible.
Even so, the requirements for an heir to the throne will ensure life is less than average for the young prince. A specially selected palace aide will train the child in how to conduct themselves as a royal highness. Skills such as public speaking, horse riding and hunting also need to be mastered and the prince will be expected to be fluent in English, Danish and French. "Mary and Frederik's children will get a very internationally minded upbringing," palace observer Penille Holm told News Limited in May. The palace has not yet released the baby's name, but he is likely to be named Christian. Since Christian II, who died in 1559, Danish kings have alternately carried the name Christian or Frederik. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen also congratulated the royal family. "This is a joyful event for all of Denmark. The government sends its best wishes for the future of the whole family," he said in a statement. Mary's good friend and bridesmaid Amber Petty said the new family was doing well. "Everything's fine. They're very well, very happy, and excited," she told Channel Ten. "I'm sure Denmark is celebrating as we speak." Meanwhile, the Slip Inn in Sydney - where Mary and Frederik met during the Olympics - will be celebrating the birth. The Slip Inn's manager, James Taylor, said free beer would be on offer to patrons for an hour on Saturday night. "We're all happy to have a little Aussie prince," he said. "It'll be a lot of fun down here tonight, we're expecting a big one. We've been fielding calls all day." |
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Saturday
Oct 15 17:27 AEST
Judy Benson, the Royal Danish
Consulate of Tasmania's honorary vice-consul, was at the hairdressers when the
news broke.
Mary has said Australia will play a
large part in their lives, while Frederik, who rarely had dinner with his own
parents, has spoken of spending time with his children and being "more present,
playing and talking to them".