2013's new heir for Australia's royal family

The baby who may one day be Australia's king could be heading down under, with the announcement that his parents, William and Kate, will visit Australia and New Zealand in April.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, depart St Mary's Hospital with their newborn son Getty.jpg

(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)

Prince George was born in London in July, with billions of people around the world celebrating his arrival.

Aileen Phillips takes a look back at his escapades so far.

(Click on audio tab above to hear full item)

"Oyez, oyez! On this day the 22nd of July 2013 it is my humble duty to announce a future King. May he be long-lived, happy and glorious and one day reign over us! God save the Queen!"

Following tradition, a formal bulletin confirming that the Duchess of Cambridge had given birth to a baby boy was posted on an easel at Buckingham Palace.

The document read:

"Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm today."

It later emerged that George Alexander Louis, to be known as the Prince of Cambridge and third in line to the British throne, weighed in at about 3.8 kilograms, or 8 pounds and 6 ounces.

Congratulations flooded in from around the globe after the birth.

Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron, declared the birth an important moment in the life of the British nation.

"It's been a remarkable few years for our Royal Family. A royal wedding that captured people's hearts and the extraordinary and magnificent jubilee and now this royal birth. All from a family that has given this nation such incredible service, they can know that a proud nation is celebrating with a proud and happy couple tonight."

Leaders from the United States, Australia and New Zealand were among the first to publicly congratulate the new parents.

Australia's then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd extended his regards to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

"I think all Australians, at the bottom of their hearts, wish the royal bub [baby] all the best and certainly wish the new parents all the best as well. This is a day of great joy. In fact when a new bub comes into the world, any old day, any part of the world it is frankly a time for rejoicing."

And then to huge cheers and a frenzy of snapping from the hundreds of waiting photographers, Prince William and his wife, Catherine, emerged from the hospital and presented their newborn son.

The couple described the birth as a very emotional time.

"He's got a good pair of lungs on him that's for sure. He's a big boy he's quite heavy, but we're still working on a name so we'll get back to you as soon as we can. I'll remind him of his tardiness when he's a bit older, because I know how long you've all been standing out here. Hopefully the hospital and you can all go back to normal now and we can look after him."

After speaking briefly to the press, the new parents returned to the hospital before re-emerging minutes later with their son in a car seat.

The Duke of Cambridge secured the seat in the car, comically wiping sweat from his brow when it clicked into place.

About two weeks later, he attended his first public function since the birth of his son.

Prince William spoke at a county show in Anglesey [angle-see] in North Wales where he and his wife lived during his stint as a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot.

The Duke said his work challenges pale into insignificance compared to those of being a new father.

"Catherine is sorry she cannot be here today at the county show. She and George would have loved to have been here. He's pretty loud and of course extremely good-looking. I have to say that I thought search and rescue duties over Snowdonia were physically and mentally demanding but looking after a three-week-old baby is right up there."

A low-key christening of Prince George took place three months after his birth at the Chapel Royal in London's St James Palace.


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4 min read

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By Aileen Phillips



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